(BLOG POST)

World Book Night is a campaign to find light or non-readers across America all on one day – April 23 – and hand them each a book. Person-to-person. To get more people reading.

World Book Night is a celebration of reading and books which will see tens of thousands of passionate volunteers give away books in their communities to share their love of reading. Successfully launched in the U.K. in 2011, World Book Night will also be celebrated in the U.S. and Germany on April 23, 2012, with more countries to come in future years.

How does World Book Night work? 

In the U.S., 30 titles have already been specially chosen by a panel of booksellers and librarians and will be printed in special World Book Night paperback editions. Givers apply to give away a particular book (you get a first, second and third choice) and they must commit to give them away to those who don’t regularly read in order to share and spread their love of reading. Each giver receives 20 copies which they pick up from their local bookshop and library the week before April 23.

The greatest reading journeys start when you put a book in to someone’s hand and say ‘this one’s amazing, you have to read it’ and by applying to be a giver you can help World Book Night give that experience to new readers on April 23. World Book Night, through social media and traditional publicity, will also promote the value of reading, of printed books, and of bookstores and libraries to everyone year-round.

Why April 23? 

April 23 is a symbolic date for world literature. It is the date of the birth and death of Shakespeare, as well as the day Cervantes died. It is in their honor that UNESCO appointed it the International Day of the Book and now been chosen to also celebrate World Book Night.

Be a part of World Book Night! Go to http://www.worldbooknight.org/ to sign up to be a giver, and to learn all about this fabulous program. All you need to become a giver is a little time, a love of books, and the desire to give something to your community. Think about where you’d like to give away the books before you go online to apply. Be creative. And thank you!

The deadline to sign up is February 1st! And yes, you can give your books away during the day of April 23rd as well as in the evening.

For more information, visit http://www.worldbooknight.org/