Area libraries taking part in million book giveaway

The Jasper Public Library, Ferdinand Branch Library, and Dubois Branch Library are proud to be a partner in the first World Book Night in the U.S., following the impressive launch of this campaign by our bookselling and publishing colleagues in the UK and Ireland last year.

Volunteers Ginger Kramer and Cheryl Verkamp from the Ferdinand Branch; Alicia Cox, Nicole Tinsman, Janice Kemker, Pamela Katt, and Mary Ellen Backer from the Jasper Library; and Stacy Helmin, Becky Seng, Anita Murphy, Randi Schroeder, Sydney Blessinger, and Elizabeth Evans from the Dubois Branch Library will join volunteers from Kodiak, Alaska, to Key West, Florida, and in 6,000 towns and cities across America, to give away half a million free books on one day: April 23, 20.

These volunteers each picked a book from the list of 30 books available and received 25 of their chosen title. These book lovers will go out and personally give the free copies of a book they enjoy to new or light readers, reaching them especially in under-served places – and even some fun spots.

Anna Quindlen, the U.S. campaign’s Honorary National Chairperson, said: “What’s better than a good book? A whole box of them, and the opportunity to share them with new readers. The idea behind World Book Night is inspired, and as a writer and a reader I’m thrilled to be part of it.”

Also a World Book Night U.S. author, for her book Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo added: “It makes perfect sense to me that World Book Night will take place in spring. Extending your hand to give someone a book, a story, is a gesture of hope and joy. It is a chance for all of us, givers and receivers, to break into blossom.”

Thirty titles were chosen by a panel of booksellers and librarians through several rounds of voting. The printing of the free books was possible due to generosity of the authors, publishers, and book manufacturing companies.

World Book Night will take place on April 23, 2012, in the U.K., U.S., and Ireland, with thousands of volunteers going out into their communities to give away special World Book Night free paperbacks.

World Book Night in the U.S. is a non-profit organization, and has 501(c)3 charitable status. World Book Night U.S. is supported by publishers, Barnes & Noble, the American Booksellers Association, the American Library Association, Ingram Content Group, United Parcel Services, and fifteen printers and paper companies; a full list of sponsors is at our website, http://www.worldbooknight.org.

For more information, contact Christine Howard or Christine Golden at Jasper Library, 482-2712; Lynn Belli at Ferdinand Branch, 367-1671; or Anita Murphy at Dubois Branch, 678-2548

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