Hi All. A few weeks ago I posted about our Daventry Librarian, Hannah, winning an opportunity to take part in World Book Night. She won 25 copies of Let The Right One In which she then had to give away to people. Hannah chose to do this in the Library at Daventry. Here's how she got on.
"So it’s the 24th April and World Book Night was last night, but I am still here with my books ready and eager to give them out in the cold light of day!
With a beautiful display put together by my library assistant Jeannette that proclaimed, “Free Books!! Please take one!” - the students sat hunched over paperwork and computers very studiously, but looking nervously over wondering “Free?.... Books?” rather unsure about what this was actually all about.
So I decided to take the plunge and start wandering about the library trying to offer my wares – a copy of John Ajvide Lindqvist’s ‘Let the Right One In!’ “Would you like a free book?” I proclaim. “Erm yes,” says the student and I immediately feel a flush of pleasure – someone wants my book! I tentatively then break the news to them that I would also like to take their photo of me handing the book over, as the proud Giver. However, it seems that despite being extremely camera shy and flushing deep scarlet, a free book is a worthy prize to subject oneself to the flash of the camera. Spurred on by my success, I then grab more copies and soon they are flying off the display to rather pleased students.
These books were most definitely not “left on the outside, cold and lonely amongst the shelves” like many a fiction book finds itself in the Academic Library. One student said “Oh wonderful, I needed a new book to read. “ Another said, “Oh I will read this, then my son, then my sister, then my mother-in law,” – well that is one book that has its journey planned out already. This is one happy Librarian and 24 happy students all pleased to receive a book, even during this high pressure exam time, which overall makes one successful World Book Night 2012.
The following day one of my library assistants said, “did you get rid of all your books Hannah?” I said “yes,” she said “Good”. Job done!"
Sounds like it was a success, well done Hannah. If you'd like to see some pictures of this event, please follow this link:
http://www.worldbooknight.org/component/community/59029-hannah-gibson/photos/album?albumid=257Did you take part in any of the World Book Day events across the county. We'd love to hear about it. Post on here if you did.
My sister took on the challenge of giving copies of "Small Island" out to London tube travellers during rush hour... Considering how unfriendly Londoners are when travelling to and from work, I think this was an enormous challenge! I think she was very shy at first, and told me that people looked at her like she was crazy! As Hannah said, many though: "Free? Books? Are you trying to sell me something?"
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, after a week of pushing books onto peoples laps as they read their newspapers (and a token copy sent to myself in the post), she finally succeeded!
Congratulations to Hannah for this!
Jo in the Library x
I wish I was in London when your sister did that.
ReplyDeleteI suppose it's the time we live in but it's sad that people are suspicious. I would be very happy to be given a free book. I might enter next year, see how I get on with random strangers!!
ReplyDeleteNichola@The Library