International Book Giving Day 2013 – Share the Love of Reading!

We are very excited to be part of this initiative spearheaded by Amy Broadmoore of Delightful Children’s Books. What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than to share the wonder of reading. Wouldn’t it be a wonderful tradition to give away books rather than flowers or chocolates on this special day? And you, dear friends, can be part of this too!

There are three very simple ways that you can join in the celebration:

1. Give a book to a friend, relative, student, lover, colleague.

Surprise someone you know with a brand-new or well-loved book that you think would be perfect for them.

2. Leave a book in a waiting room or lobby.

You can even leave a cutesie note inside this book saying “Happy International Book Giving Day” and your well-wishes that whoever finds this book would [hopefully] touch his/her heart on this special day. Make a stranger smile with a thoughtful book.

3. Donate a book.

If you’re the type who likes organizing events, then you can make a career out of this grassroots initiative by donating books to institutions, schools, libraries, a shelter. The idea is to give books to the hands of children who have no access to them.

We donated 1000 books to 4 schools during our first Blogiversary in 2011.

This photo was taken in 2011 during GatheringBooks 1st Blogiversary. Click on the image to be taken to our ‘story’ about this book-giving event.

You are invited to share your stories and photos of the IBGD Festivities by (a) adding your name to the list of celebrants at the IBGD website created by Amy, (b) using the hashtag #giveabook to Instagram photos or (c) by emailing photos to amy (dot) broadmoore (at) gmail (dot) com.

International Book Giving Day is a grassroots initiative run entirely by volunteers and founded by the indefatigable Amy Broadmoore who writes about children’s books at Delightful Children’s Books. Amy is backed by an international planning team: Zoe Toft, Playing by the Books (UK), Tarie Sabido, Asia in the Heart (Philippines), Susan Stephenson, The Book Chook (Australia), Travis Jonker, 100 Scope Notes (US), Mélanie McGilloway, Library Mice (UK). Giselle Federizzi Barcellos, Kids Indoors (Brazil), Rashmie Jaaju, Mommy Labs (India)
Emma Perry, My Book Corner (Australia), Julie Danielson, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast (US), se7en (South Africa) and myself, Myra Garces-Bacsal,Gathering Books (Singapore).

How else can you participate?

If you would like to do more, there are a variety of ways for you to get involved. You can plan an event in your community such as a used book drive, book swap, storytime session, fundraiser, volunteer event or Beers for Books event at a local bar, where [1 U.S. dollar, 100 yen or the equivalent] per beer is donated to Room to Read. Submit events to International Book Giving Day’s event directory to invite others to participate. You can also help publicize International Book Giving Day by hanging International Book Giving Day posters and by encouraging friends, family members and others in your community to celebrate.

Connect with others celebrating International Book Giving Day!

website: bookgivingday.com

instagram: instagram.com/bookgivingday/

twitter: @bookgivingday

hashtags: #giveabook, #IBGD[location] (e.g. #IBGDLondon)

If you have any other ideas to celebrate International Book Giving Day, do let me know in the Comments Section. Join us!