World Book Night

Abstract

World Book Night US has been launched following the successful World Book Night in the UK in March of 2011. Both countries will now hold the annual event on April 23, 2012, and the hopes are that it will be taken up by other countries as well. Its main goal is to foster literacy by enlisting volunteers to go into the community in search of non- or light readers, with free, not-for-resale special paperback editions of 25–30 different titles. A million books in all. As part of the effort, all the attendant publicity is intended to shine a light on the value of reading in general. In both countries, every book constituency has come together in support of the campaign: publishers, authors, booksellers, librarians and others. Both the UK and US organizations are non-profit charities, with funding from publishers, booksellers and foundations; very corporate and individual donations are being sought. Each organization has an executive director, a board of directors or trustees, and then all-volunteer advisory, marketing, website and publicity groups. The million book production is coordinated by the director and a production committee, and a distributor gets the books to bookstore or library drop points, accomplishing the third goal, which is a reminder of the value of bookstores and libraries in the community and culture.