Apply Now To Give Away Free Books

Apply now to be a book giver on World Book Night, April 23, 2012!

As a book giver, you'll receive free 20 copies of a book of your choosing from a list of 30 titles to distribute in your community to spread the joy of reading to those who don't read often or don't have regular access to books. Hand out books at a nursing home, at the train station, on the town green, at the post office, on the bus, at the supermarket, or just about anywhere.

"Basically, it's a night when people who love to read will be going out into their communities and giving away books to spread the joy of reading," said Kira Baum, from R. J. Julia. "We hope to see people get creative with their ideas on where to hand out books -- perhaps they'll be in nursing homes throughout town, or on the town green, or at Stop & Shop, or in local parks, or at a food bank. The objective is to get great books into the hands of people who don't read often or who don't have regular access to books, to celebrate the printed word, and to ultimately get people reading more."

The selected 30 titles include many popular and important books including The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Zeitoun by Dave Eggers, Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo, Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton, The Stand by Stephen King, and Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. The full list is here, on the World Book Night website.

Baum said R.J. Julia is participating as a location for the "book givers" to pick up their books, and will be throwing a party in honor of World Book Night, to which all registered givers will be invited. 

The event is being celebrated by tens of thousands of people in the United States, United Kingdom, and Ireland. The goal is to distribute a total of one million free books. The books—special edition World Book Night paperbacks—will be provided by World Book Night, made possible by donated materials and time from the publishing, paper, printing, bookselling, library, and author community.

The goal is to encourage local residents to participate in World Book Night as an opportunity to spread the joy of reading, generate enthusiasm  for printed books, foster conversation, and have a positive impact on our community, said Roxanne Coady, CEO of R.J. Julia Booksellers.

“Participating in World Book Night is a great chance for our staff and our customers to play a part in reaching out to people in our community who may not be avid readers but whose eyes may be opened by having one of these phenomenal books put in their hands," Coady said.

Anyone age 16 or older who is interested in being a book giver for World Book Night is welcome to fill out a short application online at www.worldbooknight.org. The deadline for registering is February 1st, 2012, and applicants should specify that they want to pick up their books at R.J. Julia.