If you’re reading this, chances are you won’t be receiving one of the 1,000,000 books World Book Night is giving away. But you still can (and should) take part.
Everyone has a friend who doesn’t read (or doesn’t read enough), and those are the people World Book Night is targeting. On April 23, WBN will be working with thousands of volunteers, libraries, and bookstores to distribute books by hand to “light or non-readers” After last year’s successful launch in the UK, WBN is coming to the states.
Here’s the story from Carl Lennertz, the Executive Director and sole employee of World Book Night, U.S.
World Book Night is printing hundreds of thousands of special free paperback editions, and they are looking for thousands of volunteers to go out on one day and give books out across America. … You pick the place: hospital or diner, school or … well, lots of possibilities. Be creative. … yes, there are some rules and regulations. But no cost, except for your time, love of books, and caring for your community.
The titles on offer are being printed at-cost and made possible by generous publishers and writers, including Dave Eggers, Ann Patchett, Nicole Krauss, Jhumpa Lahiri, Junot Díaz, and Patti Smith.
The deadline to apply to be WBN 2012 Giver is February 6. Do your part and click here to register.
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—Benjamin Samuel is the Online Editor of Electric Literature and looking for a “light reader” disguise to wear on April 23 (costume suggestions are welcome). You can find him on Twitter here.
When World Book Night (WBN) was extended to the US, I was very excited. I am a reading teacher of adults AND bookseller of several years. I wanted to be a part of the celebration because I promote reading on a daily basis.
HOWEVER, after waiting for several weeks to notified if our bookstore was selected as a collection point, I sent an email to the WBN people asking why we had not been contacted one way or the other. Yesterday, I finally received word in an email our bookstore was disqualified because it is a USED bookstore! However, the man who sent the email did apologize for his lack of communication.
In quoting the World Book Night website, the concept of “spreading the love of reading, person to person”, one would think the people involved would also welcome USED bookstores. USED bookstores promote reading just
as any library or NEW bookstore would.
In addition, on the application form, NOTHING was said that used bookstores were NOT acceptable as collection points!
The idea that USED bookstores are disqualified while new bookstores selling only children’s books can qualify to distribute NON-children’s books seems to be a big disconnect with the concept of “spreading the love of reading, person to person. Also, WBN has accepted USED bookstores who do not have “USED” in their name!
I am very saddened that the people at WBN could decide to disqualify ANY USED bookstore just on the fact that most of the books are not NEW.
Finally, our USED bookstore donates a number of books on a regular basis to groups and individuals, and we don’t need to have a “World Book Night” to do so.