The email came. I whooped! I hollered! I yelled at the husband and told him that I was in! Yes–this news deserves all of those exclamation marks, my friends, because “I” was selected to be a World Book Night 2014 giver!
One of my bloggy friends, Bernie, who writes a very witty and engaging blog over at One Mixed Bag got me interested last year when she put information on Facebook about World Book Night. I had never heard of it before so of course I was drawn in since I am all about reading.
So what does it mean? It means I get to give away 20 free books! I checked with our local library and they agreed that I could give the books away in the commons area if I was selected. I completed a short application outlining where I would distribute books and how I hoped to reach those who did not have books of their own or access to them. I know that the library is a great place to reach readers but it is also a great place to reach those who may not have a massive collection of their own so I felt that my first “place” should be the place that I love the most in Mason City–the Mason City Public Library. I am hopeful that our library will step up to the challenge next year and be involved in World Book Night on their own and that I will have had a teeny part in getting the experience to them.
The following paragraph taken from World Book Night’s website details a bit about their mission:
Each year, 30- 35 books are chosen by an independent panel of librarians and booksellers. The authors of the books waive their royalties and the publishers agree to pay the costs of producing the specially-printed World Book Night U.S. editions. Bookstores and libraries sign up to be community host locations for the volunteer book givers.
After the book titles are announced, members of the public apply to personally hand out 20 copies of a particular title in their community. World Book Night U.S. vets the applications, and the givers are chosen based on their ability to reach light and non-readers. The selected givers choose a local participating bookstore or library from which to pick up the 20 copies of their book, and World Book Night U.S. delivers the books to these host locations.
Givers pick up their books in the week before World Book Night. On April 23rd, they give their books to those who don’t regularly read and/or people who don’t normally have access to printed books, for reasons of means or geography.
The list of books for this year was impressive and it was difficult to narrow it down to my top three choices. When I got my confirmation email I was thrilled to see that my number one choice was selected and I am thrilled to be able to give out copies of Garrison Keillor’s Pontoon.
If you are interested in buying a copy click on the picture or this link to take you to the Amazon page where you can purchase a copy of your own. Seems quite appropriate for our area and it is a wonderful book so I am quite pleased. If you have not heard of World Book Night before please take time to go check out their website and consider joining in in 2015.
It's Just Life 
That is so exciting! Congratulations. I love the Mason City Library and think people will enjoy this opportunity. Nice pick, too. The Minnesotan in me loves Garrison Kiellor.
Thanks, Jeni! It is a fun book and I love Garrison Keillor, don’t you? We saw him at the fair one year but still would love to go see him in his home venue.
I do! I think his daughter went to our old high school. I’m so jealous of the students that got to see him speak at the weekly convocation. However, I do remember Lorna Landvik came to speak during library appreciation week. She was fantastic.
That is a very cool memory of Lorna Landvik being there. 🙂
Congrats to you!
Thanks!! It didn’t take much effort and is going to be an amazing thing to be able to do!
What a fun thing to do! Congratulations on being picked!
Thanks, Allison!!! I am excited to be able to be a part of this.
So excited for you Beth Ann. What a great opportunity to provide free books… plus…I love Garrison Keillor….when traveling to visit my father, we would always listen to him on our local PBS station. I will definitely buy one.
Yay! It is a fun book and it is almost like he is talking to you as you read–his style is amazing. I think he gives the best mini sermons ever. I am pretty excited about it.
I am doing a happy dance for you up here in Minnesota. Congratulations! You are an excellent choice for giving away these books. What fun this will be, and you must “report back” to us. OK?
Also, I commend you on your selection of a regional appropriate title penned by a Minnesotan.
Wouldn’t it be great if this program extended into small communities without libraries and/or bookstores?
The neat thing is that I found out that several other communities (Hampton and Britt) which are smaller than Mason City already have programs in place . I actually pick up my books at the library in Britt so it is a great thing for any size community. You don’t have to give them away anyplace special at all. In fact one of Bernie’s friends takes them to a cancer unit, I think, and has them give them out there. She doesn’t have a table set up like I will but they are going to a really great place. Next year I would love to give them away someplace different. It is such a great thing.
Congratulations. Enjoy.
Do you take part in this, Christine??? It is such a great thing.
What a great idea and what better calling than to be a book giver.
Thanks, Pat! I am thrilled to be a part of this!
Congratulations Beth Ann. As one who is always giving, this was a “no-brainer”, you must be thrilled.
I am! I am a big Garrison Keillor fan too so that made me thrilled that I got my first choice!
You are truly a “Prairie Home Companion” lol
Haha! You think? I am a frozen one right now.
Congratulations!
🙂 Thanks!
That’s one step closer for you, which is wonderful.
I read this awful little book (awful for those just starting out, but really a good book–loaded with info about the publishing industry) and kind of got discouraged. I was like, I haven’t even finished my book and publishing seems to be an impossible climb!
Well, I’m encouraged by your success! I’m going to keep plodding along with my writing and try to think positive thoughts. 🙂
Love the idea, Beth Ann. Congrats on being chosen. You deserve it!
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
Congratulations! what a wonderful thing. I’ll have to check and see if they do this in Canada.
I know there is one for the UK but not sure about Canada. It would be a pity if there weren’t one! Let me know what you find out.
So happy for you! This sounds like such a YOU thing to do! I hope, you will have a great night and can’t wait to hear all about it. 🙂
Thanks, Susi! I am over the moon. 🙂
Congrats Beth Ann! Hopefully you inspire some new readers to become lifelong readers!
I hope so!
Look at you — a winner! Congrats, and I know you’ll do a good job. Like you said, this is just up your alley!
I am so excited. But honestly–I think 95% of the folks that apply get picked. 🙂
This seems so fitting for you. You are such a giver and connector at heart! Thanks for everything you do and I hope you have a fabulous World Book Night!
Thanks! I am pretty excited about being able to give them away —-now to wait until April!
How luck they are, that they had the good sense to select such a thoughtful reader and giver extraordinaire! So excited for you!
Haha! I think I had pretty good chances of being picked front the looks of it but it does not lessen my enthusiasm one bit!
So happy that you are so excited. I’ll be participating for the third time this year and will be giving my books out at the Dudley’s Truck Stop. I love passing them out to unsuspecting people. The conversations I’ve had from travelers at the truck stop have been fun.
That is exactly how I want to do it next time, Val! I figured I would start at the library to hopefully get them behind it and get them involved a bit and then next year maybe they will pick up the ball and be a location on their own. But I love your idea of giving them out at the truck stop!!! Fabulous!
Aw, man. I thought you were going to tell us you get the Weiner Mobile! Congrats on being chosen for World Book Night 2014, and getting your first pick!
I need to check on that weiner mobile! I have a feeling i did not win that one!
That’s fantastic Beth Ann! The publishing company where I work had a book selected for World Book Night, so we just finished printing 35,000 books to be given away. They all have special covers on them.
How exciting! I can’t wait to hear all about your experience.
What?? 35,000 copies???? That is amazing!!!! I had no idea they put different covers on them but that is AMAZING!!!! What books does your publishing house publish??? I am thrilled about this.
What a wonderful thing to do. I wonder if there is something similar in Canada. You will have so much fun giving away these books and the library is the perfect place to do it. Sorry I’m so late in commenting but hubby took me away for a few days.(Its amazing how much happens in the blogging world in 3 days!)
3 days away from the blogging world takes a while to catch up! Sounds like the hubby did well! 🙂 I know they have a UK program but have not been able to find a program in Canada—-I have a couple others who have asked the same thing.
This looks so exciting! I’m also a chosen book giver and I’m so excited as ever. Let’s speed up to april 23rd.
Oh I totally agree!!! I am very excited!!! What book are you giving away and where are you giving it???
Im giving away Where’d You Go Bernadette and I’m givving them away to students at my school. Im so excited.
That is awesome!!! Have fun with it!!!