Sometimes after you read a really good book, you want to share it with as many people as possible. On April 23, 2014, you might have a chance with the World Book Night giveaway.

Each year, a WBN committee selects 30-35 titles (it's 35 in 2014) made up of adult and young adult fiction, non-fiction and poetry. The books' authors agree to waive royalties and publishers print special World Book Night editions free-of-charge – all with the goal of encouraging reading among non-readers. If your favorite book is on the list, you can apply to be a WBN volunteer for the chance to pass out 20 copies of the book at a location of your choice to people who seldom read books or never read books.

All Marathon County Public Library locations are encouraging their community members to apply, and the deadline is Jan. 5. Answer a few questions – why you want to participate, to whom you want to give the books, etc. – and choose the MCPL location where you plan to pick up the books. If you're chosen, WBN will ship your books to that library and we'll host receptions for volunteers about one week before the April 23 giveaway. Books cannot be distributed before April 23, and they cannot be sold.

Applications can only be filled out online at http://www.us.worldbooknight.org. If you don't have a computer and the Internet at home, stop by any MCPL location and we'll help you get started. Applicants will be notified in February. (About 95 percent of applicants are accepted, so you have a pretty good shot at being chosen.)

Here is the list of 2014 World Book Night titles:

• "The Zookeeper's Wife" by Diane Ackerman
• "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" by Jesse Andrews
• "Zora and Me" by Victoria Bond & T.R. Simon
• "Kitchen Confidential" by Anthony Bourdain
• "The Weird Sisters" by Eleanor Brown
• "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky
• "After the Funeral" by Agatha Christie
• "The Ruins of Gorlan: The Ranger's Apprentice, Book 1" by John Flanagan
• "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" by Jamie Ford
• "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" (Large Print edition) by Jamie Ford
• "The Lighthouse Road" by Peter Geye
• "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell
• "Wait Till Next Year" by Doris Kearns Goodwin
• "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
• "The Dog Stars" by Peter Heller
• "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen
• "Pontoon" by Garrison Keillor
• "Same Difference" by Derek Kirk Kim
• "Enchanted" by Alethea Kontis
• "Miss Darcy Falls in Love" by Sharon Lathan
• "Bobcat and Other Stories" by Rebecca Lee
• "Young Men and Fire" by Norman Maclean
• "Tales of the City" by Armistead Maupin
• "Waiting to Exhale" by Terry McMillan
• "Sunrise Over Fallujah" by Walter Dean Myers
• "Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Paterson
• "The Botany of Desire" by Michael Pollan
• "The Raven's Warrior" by Vincent Pratchett
• "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs
• "When I was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago
• "Cuando Era Puertorriquena" by Esmeralda Santiago
• "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" by Maria Semple
• "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" (Large Print edition) by Maria Semple
• "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed
• "Presumed Innocent" by Scott Turow
• "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein
• "This Boy's Life" by Tobias Wolff
• "100 Best-Loved Poems" edited by Philip Smith

Is one of your favorites on the list? Stop by any MCPL location or contact us for more information. We'll help you help others by sharing your love of reading!

article by Chad Dally / Library Events Coordinator

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