5-4-09 Adopt a Book For Children's Book Week!

One of my favorite times here at the library is story time. Though I am not the reader (usually), I love to hear the small voices raised in appreciation or participation in the story. There are few things better than that sort of noise. Encouraging children to read is one of the major missions of a library, or at least it should be. And believe it or not, there’s a week of the year that specifically exists to support that endeavor.

Children’s Book Week was started in 1919, with Children’s Book Council coming onto the scene in 1944. Since then, the Council has administered the celebration week and chosen the dates. Traditionally, Children’s Book Week has been the week before Thanksgiving, but the dates were changed in 2008 and now, the celebration takes place in May, which is just around the corner!

The Children’s Book Council encourages libraries and bookstores, as well as parents, to show children how beautiful the written word can be by introducing them to new books and new worlds, beyond what they can experience here at home.

Children’s Book Week for 2009 will be May 11- 17 and to celebrate, Meinders Library is having a Book Adoption Fair from May 5 until May 22. Over 100 children’s and young adult books will be on hand for adoption at the library during those three weeks.

Adopting a Book? How do you do that? Any private person or business is welcome to come in to the library and select a book that they enjoy or that speaks to them in some way. (My personal favorite – Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!) Each book will have a sheet inside with the price. Once that price is paid, a bookplate will be placed in the book before it is put on the shelves, indicating who purchased it.

This idea is great for birthdays, memorials, or just plain fun! We will have single books on hand, and series books (three to five in a group) that families can adopt – one for each member – which is a fun idea for a Book Week present! And come on, who doesn’t need an excuse to buy presents, much less to buy books!?

Come in and visit us, even if you don’t feel like adopting, and treat yourself to a good spring read. We’ve got new books coming in every day, both for children and for adults, and we can find something for any sort of reader, from the serious mystery fan, to a non-fiction sort of person. We’ve got the perfect book for you!

Remember, if you don’t see it on the shelf but you simply have to read it, please let a staff member know so we can get it for you through our interlibrary loan.

Meinders Community Library is open Monday – Thursday from 10 AM to 8 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM. If you would like to place a book on hold or have any questions, please give us a call at 825-6714.