Who is helping give out half a million free books across America on April 23rd? Deschutes Public Library! On April 23, 2014, 25,000 volunteers from Berkeley to Boston and Sitka to Sarasota will give away half a million free books in more than 6,000 towns and cities across the country.

World Book Night U.S. is an ambitious campaign to give thousands of free, specially printed paperbacks to light or nonreaders across America all on one day. Volunteer book lovers help promote reading by going out into their communities and sharing free copies of books they love. Some of the volunteers in our community will be picking up their books at the Downtown Bend Public Library and distributing them in locations as diverse as nursing homes, schools, food pantries, and more. Deschutes Public Library is proud to be a partner in World Book Night U.S. again this year.

Local givers picked from a list of 30 books ranging from classics to recent best sellers. The books on the list were chosen by an independent panel of booksellers and librarians through several rounds of voting. The printing of the free books was made possible by the authors, publishers, and book manufacturing companies

Although it is too late to be a giver this year, those interested in participating in the future can sign up for the WBN mailing list for news and updates at www.us.worldbooknight.org.

For more information about this or other library programs, please visit the library website at www.deschuteslibrary.org.