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Ever Wanted to Hand Out Free Books to Strangers? You're in Luck on World Book Night

The April 23 event involves North Canton Public Library patrons — and people from around the country — handing out 20 copies of a book in their community

 

World Book Night and the North Canton Public Library is giving you the chance to put a book in the hand of someone who doesn't normally read or doesn't have access to books.

Yes, you.

The two have partnered for the April 23 event and hope that you will sign on to hand out free books to strangers in North Canton. If handing a free book to a stranger sounds, well, a little strange, remember it's to "spread the love of reading, person to person," according to World Book Night.

"We are excited that the North Canton Public Library will serve as a pick-up site for 'book givers,'" said Christina Weyrick-Cooper, the library's community relations manager.

"World Book Night harmonizes perfectly with the library’s vision of inspiring the community to seek lifelong learning and enjoyment. We believe strongly in the mission of World Book Night, and are looking forward to hearing the experiences of the 'givers' we meet."

Here's how World Book Night explains it: A panel of librarians and booksellers choose 30 books each year, and those authors waive their royalties and the publishers agree to pay the costs of producing the specially-printed World Book Night U.S. editions.

Then, bookstores and libraries sign up to be community host locations for the volunteer book givers, and members of the public apply to hand out 20 copies of a title in their community on World Book Night. (You apply for three titles, and one of those three is chosen for you.)

On that day, givers will hand out 500,000 books total.

Want to get involved? Check out the guidelines here and apply to be a giver in North Canton.

Related Topics: Christina Weyrick-Cooper, World Book Night, and north canton public library
Think you'll participate in World Book Night next year? Tell us in the comments.

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Ken Palosi

9:00 am on Friday, November 9, 2012

I signed up too! Stephanie, you also might like www.bookcrossing.com. It is a fun concept whereby one releases books "into the wild." Once released you can track the book on its journey as others read the book they found and then release it back into the wild. Some books make journies to foreign countries and have a long journey. Some may only make it a few blocks from where they were released and never be heard from again. In the end it is still all about sharing and to me that is one of the greatest joys about books.

Kristina Bunnell

1:09 pm on Monday, December 17, 2012

Where are you thinking of handing out? I was trying to think of someplace that's not a mall or store(as the website suggests) where there would be enough people about. I thought about the park, maybe-but who know's about the weather that time of year....

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Morgan Day

4:23 pm on Monday, December 17, 2012

Hey, Kristina. I'm checking in with Christina Weyrick-Cooper on that one. I'm eager to see where everyone will be, too.

Christina Weyrick-Cooper

5:56 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Thanks for trying to be creative, Kristina! There are some great ideas on the testimonial page (former givers) here. http://www.us.worldbooknight.org/resources/testimonials/giver-testimonials I keep trying to think of a place that would be full of volunteers and other deserving people - maybe the humane society? Or a soup kitchen? Or maybe somewhere like the airport or a bus station would be good? Those are just my personal thoughts...

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