Good News Part 1...I'm a Giver

Spreading the Love of Reading, Person to Person

Dear Regina, Congratulations! You will be a 2014 World Book Night giver...after you do one more thing! First:  We are delighted to tell you that the book you'll be giving away is Where'd You Go Bernadette, Maria Semple.

World Book Night Application Process Part 2

First of all, I apologize. I thought I clicked publish on this post weeks ago, but apparently I did not.

As I mentioned in my previous posts, I am making aspects of my experience public this year to encourage others to participate in World Book Night 2014. Last year's experience was positive, and I would like others to take the opportunity to share the gift of reading.

The Book and the Potential Recipients

 

The contenders were as follows:

• Catch - 22; Joseph Heller
• The Dog Stars; Peter Heller
• Pontoon;  Garrison Keillor
• Same Difference;  Derek Kirk Kim
• Bobcat and other Stories; Rebecca Lee
• Tales of the City; Armistead Maupin

 

And the winner is



 

 

 

 

 

I chose this book based on the potential recipients in my community. I had identified the following as potential recipients:

 

Potential Recipients:

• Seniors living in an apartment building on a bus route near the public library where I work.

• Adults at the Recreational Center across the street from the library where I work.

• People who use a drop-in center in my neighborhood for women, children and transgender individuals who are experiencing homelessness and poverty.

A coworker who has not participated in World Book Night expressed interest in sharing books with the Seniors in our community. Dog Stars and Pontoon were my selections for those recipients.

Bobcat and Other Short Stories along with Same Difference were meant for the patrons of the recreation center because both titles could easily be read in short bursts of attention. However, when I visited the recreation center, most people had brought their own reading material or were "plugged in."

With four titles eliminated, I was down to Catch-22 and Tales of the City. I selected Tales of the City because I thought it would have more wide-spread appeal to the women, teens, and transgender individuals who would most likely receive the book.

With my personal selection process completed, I was ready to complete my application.

The Application

 

You must be 16 years of age or older. The application asks for standard information including your name, address, email address, and phone number. You select three books from the list and indicate whether or not you have read your first choice, complete the questions below, and voila application complete.

 

 

Where do you intend to give out the books?

 

To whom do you intend to give the books?

 

Why do you want to participate in World Book Night?

 

 

Now is when you wait to find out if you have been selected to be a book giver. Givers are notified in February 2014. You can also sign up to receive the newsletter and follow @wbnamerica on Twitter. You can follow me, too @FriendRsquared



 

World Book Night - Application Process Part 1

In order to encourage everyone to apply to be a book giver, I have decided to make aspects of my experience public. So, first for my selection process. Choosing the book and the recipients is similar to a chicken and the egg scenario. For the purpose of clarity, I will start with the books and then decide on my community members who are potential recipients.

The Books

• A book I have never read (I will read all books before I complete my application)
  
  
• A book that piques my interest
  
  
• A book that has appeal factors for potential recipients in my community.

These are the contenders: 

         





           

          



Potential Recipients in my Community

• Seniors living in an apartment building on a bus route near the public library where I work.

• Adults at the Recreational Center across the street from the library where I work.

• People who use the drop-in center in my neighborhood for women, children and transgender individuals who are experiencing homelessness and poverty.

World Book Night 2014 - Be a Book Giver

Thank you so much for supporting me throughout Dewey's 24-Hour Read-A-Thon. I read almost 800 pages, which means I will be donating $80 to World Book Night US .

On the World Book Night website you can read more about the history of World Book Night. This post is to encourage everyone  to consider applying to be a book giver. Below I will just outline the highlights for GIVERS.

When: Books are distributed on April 23, 2014 UNESCO's International Day of the Book and Shakespeare's birthday. Applications are available today - January 5, 2014. Please pay special attention to the guidelines on the website. In the application you will also be asked three questions. Please think about your answers before applying.

1. Where do you intend to give out the books?
2. To whom do you intend to give the books?
3. Why do you want to participate in World Book Night?

Brevity is NOT a plus in your answers: please be passionate and detailed. It helps. Up to 100 words. Thank you!

What: Give away 20 books of a single title (35 titles from which to choose)

Who: 25,000 volunteers distribute half a million books to those who don't regularly read, Encouraging reading in the teen and adult population, especially those who may not have access to printed books for reasons of means or geography.

The goal of World Book Night is to seek out adult readers wherever they are, in towns and cities, in public settings or in places from nursing homes to food pantries, low-income schools to mass transit.