Want to celebrate Valentine’s Day with some reading? The Atherton library invites you to read a secret book!
The library is hosting “Blind Date With a Book”, where students can choose a wrapped book based on a few clues on its genre. Students can then write a review after finishing the book. After the month ends, a prize drawing will be held for a gift card.
Students interested in joining can come to the library (to the decorated area) any time during the month of February to choose a book, with the drawing being more into March to allow time to read.
Susan Gasaway is Atherton’s new librarian, joining at the start of the school year. Since joining, events such as promotions for the humane society, Gobble Grams for teachers, and currently, the Emoji Challenge have been held. “Blind Date With a Book” is yet another implementation of Gasaway’s. Gasaway got the idea from her previous librarian positions, wanting to host another event to grow new readers.
“It’s kind of common in lots of bookstores and other libraries. Lots of places do it. I was a librarian previously at another high school and I always did it every year. It was always popular, so I figured I would try it here. I try to do something fun every month just to encourage people to come in and try something new, and this is perfect for Valentine’s day,” Gasaway said.
Since starting “Blind Date With a Book”, she has been happy to see the large number of interested students.
“I’ve been really excited about the number of kids who have come in, already checked out books, and been excited. So I’m excited that it’s been popular. I’m excited that something I’m excited about is working out,” said Gasaway.
Monica Poole, (11), has already got her book, “Dig” by A.S. King. Poole admires the event, since it expands her reading.
“Whenever I bookshop, I tend to purchase books from the same authors. But with blind date books, I am introduced to new authors, which is why I like to participate,” Poole said.
Poole is most excited for updating her GoodReads, and the opportunity to win a giftcard. She really likes the library’s new events like “Blind Date With a Book”, noting the positive changes she has seen.
“I find them [the events] very enjoyable. Compared to last year, I’ve seen a lot more people in the library, and I really like that. It’s a more comfortable space with people who have interest in the events in the library and what it has to offer,” said Poole.
To Gasaway, events like “Blind Date With a Book” are important, as it encourages students to read and provides them with a comfortable space.
“Everyone’s really busy during the day and sometimes the library isn’t some place they really have a time to stop by, so this brings them in and encourages them to try new reading and that’s really what it’s all about. It’s all about getting kids at the library, and even if they’re not checking out the library; just enjoying the space and being able to make connections with other people while they’re in here,” Gasaway said.
If students don’t feel comfortable choosing a book without seeing it, there is also “Never Been Kissed”. Students can read books that have never been checked out, and also be allowed in the prize drawing after writing a review.
944 books were checked out in just 14 school days in January! Let’s try to break that record in February with this fun festivity!
