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You are currently browsing the First Book Blog weblog archives for September, 2007.
Archive for September 2007
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2007 National Book Festival
September 28th, 2007
Erin T.
Leave a Comment »The Library of Congress will once again be holding the National Book Festival on the National Mall this Saturday. If you will be in the DC area, come out and meet some amazing national authors and mingle with fellow book lovers. Go to http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/ for more information.
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Oklahoma Programs Receive 50,000 Books from First Book
September 27th, 2007
Diane N.
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Last week brought the First Book team to Oklahoma City for the conclusion of What Book Got You Hooked? — our summer-long campaign celebrating our 15th anniversary and the distribution of our 50 millionth book to kids in need. Visitors to the Web site were invited to share the books that made them readers, then vote for the state to receive 50,000 brand new children’s books through First Book.That state was OKLAHOMA!
First Book was delighted to meet the wonderful supporters from the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation and the dozens of other local programs whose consistent voting made their win possible. On September 19, these local heroes came together to attend a celebratory event held at Omniplex, Science Musem Oklahoma. They were joined by several members of the media, as well as: Oklahoma’s First Lady Kim Henry; Janet Stevens of Idearc Media, a sponsor of the national competition; Makenna Smith, Miss Oklahoma 2007; Mike Wimmer, award-winning children’s book illustrator; Brooke Good, Mrs. Oklahoma International 2007; and Susan McVey, Director of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries.
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Back-to-School Click Challenge
September 24th, 2007
Mary Beth F.
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First Book has launched a special Back-to-School Click Challenge on The Literacy Site to help bring new books to children in need in St. Louis and across the country!
Throughout September, First Book is encouraging everyone to visit The Literacy Site and click the central button to generate new books for children in need. If visitors can generate 20,000 books in the month of September, First Book, in partnership with The Literacy Site and Pi Beta Phi, will donate an additional 20,000 new books to children in St. Louis.
Help show your support by clicking daily at The Literacy Site (www.theliteracysite.com) and spreading the word about this Challenge. -
Advisory Board Volunteer Spotlight Award
September 21st, 2007
Erin T.
Leave a Comment »First Book would like to congratulate First Book-Greater Akron Chairman Chuck B. for being the recipient of this month’s Volunteer Spotlight Award. Chuck is selflessly committed to First Book’s mission and his enthusiasm in helping others is contagious. We’ve been told that Chuck’s enthusiasm “spreads like wildfire!”, that he is an “awesome leader”, and that he makes “everyone on (the) board feel important.” Chuck is a collaborative leader who readily praises the skills and contributions of each Board member. He gives unselfishly and thinks nothing of driving six hours to pick up books after working into the middle of the night. Chuck’s boundless energy and commitment to First Book have helped bring countless books to the children of Greater Akron. Congratulations Chuck! Well deserved and thank you!
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Attention DC Residents!
September 19th, 2007
Erin T.
Leave a Comment »Do you have too many books, and not enough space? Do you want to have your used books make a difference? Help First Book “Make it a Better World” and turn old books into new by participating in an area-wide used book drive. First Book is teaming up with social venture company Better World Books, who will sell used books collected in the drive on their website. First Book will use the proceeds to bring thousands of brand-new books to children in need in the DC community.
We are already off to a fabulous start, thanks to a generous donation from Feed the Hungry. Volunteers from First Book and the Calvary Food Bank assisted Feed the Hungry’s Pablito Alarcon yesterday in adding thousands of books to our drive. The drive ends September 23rd, so be sure to visit one of 27 DC SunTrust Bank locations, and drop off your donations of used books. Find out more information and what books can make the largest difference.
Not in the DC area, but have books you want to donate? Learn how you can get involved.
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Bestseller By Any Other Name
September 17th, 2007
Mindy Klasky
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Guest blogger Mindy Klasky is the author of six fantasy novels, including the award-winning, best-selling The Glasswrights’ Apprentice and numerous short stories. Her latest novel, Sorcery and the Single Girl, is the second book in a series about a love-struck D.C. librarian who discovers she’s a witch. A portion of proceeds from the sale of Sorcery and the Single Girl, available starting September 25th, and Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft, available now, will benefit First Book.What makes a book become a bestseller? Obviously, the book sells “a lot” but what exactly does that mean? Everyone in the book industry claims to have an answer.
The New York Times bestseller list - the one that most authors would give their keyboards to make - considers several elements, including:
- How many copies of the book sold to certain booksellers (not individual buyers)?
- How rapidly were those sales made? Were re-orders placed for the book very quickly?
- What was the format of the book? Was it trade paperback (oversized, often literary, paperbacks), which is given more “credit” than mass market paperback (the standard “pocket” paperbacks), given the higher cost of trade?
Many factors go into our scientific analysis. We wonder if enough copies of our books were printed in the first place, to even give us a chance of making the list. We wonder if those copies shipped promptly. We wonder if they were shelved by bookstores promptly. We wonder if the covers were faced out (luring readers more than spine placement). We wonder if sales are reported accurately. We wonder if we’re crazy for spending so much time wondering.
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First Book and Joan Allen in InStyle Magazine
September 13th, 2007
Diane N.
Leave a Comment »For further proof that children’s literacy is always in style, check out page 450 of this month’s InStyle Magazine.
Actress Joan Allen — a longtime friend of First Book, and currently starring in The Bourne Ultimatum — is spotlighted in the magazine’s monthly “Cause Celeb” feature for her tremendous commitment to First Book. Joan said of First Book recipient children:
“These kids are in a situation where they always get secondhand things, but here they get new books to bring home and share. It’s an esteem-building thing.”
Be sure to look for Joan — and First Book! — in the September issue on newsstands now.
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Make it a Better World for Children in the Washington DC Area!
September 7th, 2007
Katie B.
Leave a Comment »Tomorrow, September 8th, is International Literacy Day, and First Book, Better World Books and volunteers from the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the greater Washington DC area are joining together and encouraging individuals to “Make it a Better World” and turn old books into new books for children in Washington, DC by participating in a area-wide used book drive.
The drive, which runs from September 8th to 23rd will benefit First Book and help provide brand new, age appropriate books to local children in need. During the two week initiative, used books will be collected at 27 book drive collection boxes at DC SunTrust Bank locations.
Through Better World Books, all used books collected through this initiative will be sorted and then sold online, with the proceeds benefiting First Book. Old books will become new for kids who need them the most! And with more than 35,000 of children in the District living at or below the poverty line, we know that the need is great.
Find out what books are accepted and learn more about how you can help “make it a better world” this month!
Not in the DC area, but have books you want to donate? Learn how you can get involved.
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Farewell Clarissa!
September 7th, 2007
Erin T.
2 Comments »Today marks a sad day for the First Book Blog! Clarissa is leaving First Book, and with it takes a vast amount of technical support and leadership that has built the site this last year and a half.
For many of the contributors to this site, this was our first experience with the blog world and Clarissa took it in stride. She patiently explained to me and many of the staff how to write posts, comment appropriately, and about the community of blogging. She would edit ramblings from the road into stories to share, and was stellar at thinking of new ideas for us to write about.
Clarissa is leaving First Book, no doubt to do amazing work for other great causes, but we hope she’ll keep in touch and continue to read the First Book Blog! We wish her the very best!
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First Book-Bonneville County Attracts at Community Event
September 5th, 2007
Tonya S.
Leave a Comment »We received this great story from First Book-Bonneville County about a fun community arts festival they attended this summer.
First Book-Bonneville County had the opportunity to participate in the annual Snake River Roaring Youth Jam—the biggest family arts festival ever to hit Idaho Falls. Organized by the Idaho Falls Arts Council, the “Youth Jam” is a three-day festival August 9-11, 2007 filled with art, theater and music for kids of all ages…and their families too!