This April, bibliophiles across America will give away a total of half a million books – and you can be one of them.
World Book Night 2013 will be held on April 23rd in the US (as well as the UK, Ireland and Germany), and the WBN organization is looking for 25,000 volunteer book givers to hand out 20 copies each of selected paperback titles.
In order to be a book giver you must be:
- Aged 16 or over and a resident of the United States
- Able to pick up 20 copies of your book from your local bookshop or library
- Committed to giving your books away on World Book Night to non or light readers
Givers will be chosen based on where, to whom, and why they want to give books away.
Those interested in participating must apply by January 25th. (This is an extended deadline.) Applicants will receive an email from WBN in February updating them on their status.
Read the full terms and conditions of being a World Book Night giver here.
Participants have 30 books to choose from in a variety of genres, ranging from history (Timothy Egan’s The Worst Hard Time) and humor (Tina Fey’s Bossypants) to fiction (Lisa Genova’s Still Alice) and children’s lit (James Patterson’s Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life). View a complete list of included titles here.
World Book Night was launched in the UK in 2011 and was celebrated for the first time in the US and Ireland in 2012. Last year, 80,000 people gave out more than 2.5 million books in four different countries. WBN’s mission is to spread a love of reading and books throughout communities. In addition to the giveaway, WBN will also promote the value of reading, of printed books, and of bookstores and libraries year-round through social media and traditional publicity.
World Book Night is always celebrated on April 23rd – the UNESCO Day of the Book as well as Shakespeare’s birthday; the date was also chosen to honor Miguel de Cervantes, who died on April 23, 1616.
The annual selection of books is made an independent panel of librarians and booksellers. The books’ authors waive their royalties, and the publishers agree to pay the cost of the specially-printed World Book Night domestic editions. Chosen book givers select a local participating bookstore or library from which to pick up their copies of their designated book (which are delivered to host locations by WBN) the week before World Book Night and then pass them out on April 23rd.
Connecticut readers: R.J. Julia (Madison) and Bank Square Books (Mystic) are two pick-up options for WBN givers.
Be sure to sign up today so that you can wear your literary lust loud and proud come April 23rd…
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