About 1,000 volunteers gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. yesterday to ring in summer by preparing 50,000 "summer reading" backpacks for distribution to low income children.The event was part of United Way's Day of Action. First Book, the non-profit organization dedicated to providing access to new books for children in need, donated 150,000 books for the event. Each backpack was filled with three new books, and a "reading kit" featuring tips, activities and bookmarks. Original flyer for the event: Libraries across the country are offering Summer Reading programs for kids so no excuses. Keep the kids reading all summer long!My...
The Knowledge Taxis of Cairo
Egyptians on the whole are not big readers. So what's a bookstore to do to try and help shift the cultural attitudes toward books and get people reading? Last year the ALEF Bookstores in Cairo came up with a brilliant idea. Since the streets of Cairo are in an almost continuous state of gridlock why not put books in the back of taxis so people can pass the time reading.The initiative, called “Taxi of Knowledge,” launched with 50 cabs, each carrying 5 books. Here's how it works:All the books for the program have been donated.The bookstore lends each taxi driver 5...
A Flash Mob of Readers in Support of National Library Week
In honor of National Library Week about 75 people showed up at a mall in Holyoke, Mass to stop and read a book.Here is the promotional poster for Library week featuring John Grisham as Honorary Chair:and here is Grisham sharing some library love:
Obama visits elementary school to read from his new book
SAUL LOEB, AFP/Getty ImagePresident Barak Obama made a surprise appearance at Long Branch Elementary School in Arlington, VA today.Obama read to about 90 kids from his new children's book Of Thee I Sing a book comprised of illustrated letters written to his daughters describing the lives of 13 great Americans. He also read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Clement Moore and like author's at most readings took questions from the crowd.Of Thee I Sing has sold 50,000 copies in the first five days making it the fastest-selling picture book in history for the publisher, Random House Children's Books.The Oval, at...
A Place of Reading: Three Hundred Years of Reading in America
That's the title of the recently launched online exhibit from the American Antiquarian Society.Background:During the early colonial period, books were seen as rarefied objects, most prohibitively expensive, and some almost impossible to obtain no matter what the cost. In time, presses were established, trade improved, machines were invented, paper became affordable, and, finally, the price of books went down. But books were still cherished; they were read, saved, and handed down. By the early 1900s the vast majority of the American population—rich or poor, black or white, male or female—were readers. This is their story. The exhibit contains an image...