Gift to Libraries, Gift to Publishing Industry, Gift to Literacy

Apologies for this shortie! Many #SharingwithWriters visitors and subscribers know that every once in a while I can't help myself.  This time I figure writers and readers will be interested in this way to give a gift that will help literacy, libraries, and--by extension--the publishing industry.

The Smithsonian magazine has made it easy for those who support literacy and libraries to give a subscription to their favorite library (or to whatever library they feel needs it most?). A subscription would be a great thank you gift to a library that has supported you with a signing, reading, or featuring you as a presenter. Send your check for $19. (a 51% discount off newsstand prices) to Lisa Dunham, Adopt-A-Library, Smithsonian, PO Box 62170, Tampa, FL 33663-1703. I love, love, love this magazine! They get thank you notes from librarians all the time—many of them lamenting the slim budgets they must operate on. And did you know that libraries on American Indian reservations have special needs, too?

This is also a resource for giving an inexpensive but meaningful gift to someone else for the holidays--kind of like many do for bereaved friends when they request "in lieu of flowers." That works for holidays, birthdays. You name it. And  

ABOUT SHARING WITH WRITERS BLOGGER

 Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and how to books for writers including the award-winning second edition of, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher; The multi award-winning second edition of The Frugal Editor; and Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers . The Great First Impression Book Proposal is her newest booklet for writers. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor .

Little Free Libraries: A Boon to Book Promotion, Neighborhoods and Literacy

 

This little column is a regular feature of my SharingwithWriters newsletter. Those who would like to subscribe will find a form and free e-book offer at http://howtodoitfrugally.com.

 

Itty Bitty Column

By Mindy Phillips Lawrence

In the world of Kindles and Nooks, the same world in which electronics seem to rule the universe, a strange event is occurring. People are building little libraries in their communities, often outside of their homes and apartments, where anyone can drive or walk by, take a book to read, and either return the same book or bring back another one. I am talking about the phenomenon begun in 2009 called the Little Free Library movement.

Holly June Graves and her husband E.W. have built the little library shown in the picture above. She’s an avid reader and he’s a retired mechanic who became interested in carpentry. He made birdhouses and bookshelves until Holly plugged him into the idea of building libraries. The libraries he builds are not on the Carnegie Library scale. Instead, they are tiny offerings of books to the public, block by block. These containers can be one-story or two-story edifices. In fact, someone converted an old bread box from the thrift store into a Little Library. They’ve spurred creativity, reading and community sharing.

The Little Free Library idea was born in Wisconsin. According to its Mission Statement on it webpage, they are designed to:

*Promote literacy and the love of reading by building free book exchanges worldwide.

*Build a sense of community as we share skills, creativity, and wisdom across generations.

*Build more than 2,500 libraries around the world—more that Andrew Carnegie—and then more. One has opened in Ghana!

If you want to know if there are any Little Free Libraries in your area, go to: http://tinyurl.com/7gkbyhm. Search the map to see where to find a library in your neck of the woods. Not all of them are registered but many are

If you find a Little Free Library near you, take something to read and bring something back. You might also leave a small kindly written note while you are there saying, “Thank you.”

LINKS

Little Free Library Organization

http://www.littlefreelibrary.org/

 

Using Books to Build Community

http://dailynightly.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/03/10/10634425-using-books-to-build-community

 

Community Closeup – Little Free Library

http://articles.kspr.com/2012-11-28/library_35418641

 

Little Free Libraries – Austin, Texas

http://www.statesman.com/news/lifestyles/home-garden/growing-the-love-of-reading-free-libraries-pop-up-/nSwPp/

 

Facebook – Little Free Library

http://www.facebook.com/LittleFreeLibrary?filter=1

 

Little Free Libraries – Green Bay, Wisconsin

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20121123/GPG0101/311230289/-Little-libraries-encourage-reading-community-through-free-book-exchanges?odyssey=nav%7Chead&nclick_check=1

 

Build Your OWN Little Free Library

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/build-your-own-little-free-library-175402

 

Little Free Libraries Movement Keeps Gaining Momentum

http://badgerherald.com/artsetc/2012/11/08/little_free_library_.php

 

~Mindy Phillips Lawrence is a writer, editor, and artist based in Springfield, Missouri. You can reach her at mplcreative at yahoo.com or view her Web site at http://mplcreative.webs.com/.

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and how to books for writers including the award-winning second edition of, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher; The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success; and Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers . The Great First Impression Book Proposal is her newest booklet for writers. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor . 

Pitch in for Literacy!

Many of you know that charity is not only a great life habit but that it is also a fine way to promote. You've probably noticed how many businesses are eager to associate themselves with everything from breast cancer research to Rawanda. Literacy is a great cause for both readers and authors to support. Both tend to have lots of books to pass on to these efforts. By the way, you'll find a growing list of such charities on the Resources for Writers page on my site, www.HowToDoItFrugally.com. Fine the page with the links at the top of the home page and when you get there, scroll down (-;

Here is another: Literacy Link -

Leamos, a volunteer tutoring program, operates in a small
rural community in Southwest New Mexico. We support the community by
tutoring adults and children, reading to children in classrooms,
distributing books and information on the importance of reading and
providing resources to those who cannot afford books and supplies for
themselves.

We are requesting books for teens and adults. These will be
distributed through our special programs, such as One-On-One Tutoring,
Family Literacy, and ESL (English as a Second Language). In addition, we
have partnerships with HeadStart for classroom reading, WIC
(Woman/Infants/Children), El Refugio Family Shelter, SWAK (Southwest
Advocates for Kids), teen group homes and the Mobile Library that goes to
more rural areas.

The Federal EIN for our 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Charitable organization is:
81-0655544

Please mail donations to:
Linda Ferrara
Coldwell Banker Enchantment Realty
501 Silver Heights Blvd.
Silver City, NM 88061
505-538-2931
Linda@Silvercity-realestate.com

Sincerely,

Linda Ferrara
Board of Directors - Literacy Link Leamos
www.gilarangers.com/leamos.htm


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Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author THIS IS THE PLACE; HARKENING: A COLLECTION OF STORIES REMEMBERED; TRACINGS, a chapbook of poetry; and two how to books, THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER: HOW TO DO WHAT YOUR PUBLISHER WON'T; and THE FRUGAL EDITOR: PUT YOUR BEST BOOK FORWARD TO AVOID HUMILIATION AND ENSURE SUCCESS.
Her other blogs include TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com and AuthorsCoalition.blogspot.com, a blog that helps writers and publishers turn a ho-hum book fair booth into a sizzler.