November 1st National Author’s Day

Nellie Verne Burt McPherson created today for the Belmont Illinois Book Club in 1928. The US Congress made it national in 1949 and placed it on November 1st. If you have a favorite author, you should read one of their works today. If you don’t have one, you could read my short story on Amazon, “Why the Evergreen’s Stay Green”. Okay, so it’s another shameless plug, sorry. https://www.amazon.com/Evergreens-Stay-Green-John-Olbert-ebook/dp/B01NCI7RAZ

How to celebrate – Find a favorite author if you don’t already have one. Read to learn. Check out life through someone else’s eyes.

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February 7th Bubble Gum Day

I’m not so sure about this holiday. It was created by Ruth Spiro in 2006 as an idea for fundraisers for schools primarily, although it has been done in libraries and other locations where chewing gum is not normally allowed. My question is, are enough funds raised to cover the damage caused by allowing people to chew gum where they really shouldn’t? Bubble gum generally ends up with people making bubbles that explode or the gum flies out of the mouth in the effort to form it properly. Isn’t that sort of asking for trouble? Oh well, who am I to say.

How to celebrate – Go to your local school or library and chew some bubble gum. See how large you can get your bubble before it explodes. Remember to dispose of your gum properly.

November 12th Young Reader’s Day

Just like with vegetables, as we get older we tend to appreciate things a little more. Books fall into that category as well. As a child we have so many things to do, most of which are useless, that we don’t get around to the things that are important. Reading is very important, it can take us places we might not ever get a chance to go, learn things that everyday life does not teach us and be entertained at the same time. The idea is to get kids to read so that by the time they grow up, they have a better foundation to make a better life for themselves. The day was created by Pizza Hut and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. A book is a treasure, just like those treasure buried by pirates, and often worth much more!

How to celebrate – Read a book with your child. Take your child to a library. Read a book yourself.

August 9th Book Lovers Day

So when was the last time you read a book? You really don’t have to wait until Book Lovers Day to read one. Although, there seem to be a bunch of them over the year. Today seems to be the most recognized of them but they do seem to be all over the place. I personally think that’s a good thing!

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Books can take you anyplace you feel like going for the day… or if you are me, maybe a month! I’m not that fast of a reader. These teach, educate and relax us. I love the ebooks but they just aren’t the same as holding a book in your hands, turning the page and makes you feel like you are accomplishing something.

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Now books have been around since the written word. They range a huge variety of subjects and are based on fact, fiction and fictional facts. Some have pretty pictures, some have some not so pretty pictures and show you a part of the world, or history, that you may not have visited before. Maybe they take you to someplace you’d like to go but can’t afford to or simply find impossible to get to, like someplace in the past or the future.

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They also lead to great discussions and thought processing, seeing some view you may not have considered or something you may not have even thought about. I have up to a half-dozen books I haven’t read yet laying around at any time. That inspires me to read on because there is a book I want to get to waiting.

How to celebrate – Start reading a book today. Write a book today. Suggest a favorite book to a loved one of friend.

April 4th National School Librarian Day

Who is the most under appreciated member of your school staff? Okay, yes, there are a number of under appreciated members of a school staff but today it is the school librarian. In most schools they maintain and operate what is called the Media Center for schools, which includes the books, newspapers, in house television station, and a number of other jobs that would never get done if not for them.

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They need to know where every book in a library is since no one knows how to use those reference cards. They often, in the younger grades, have reading time with their students and run the school book fairs.

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Some are party animals as well. They learn how to make a library fun while making sure there is no noise. They update those library cards and pick out new and relative books from thousands that are available every year.

 

While most librarians have years of experience not all are the studious type you might expect., after all… they are human too. Once they let their hair down and remove those glasses there’s no telling what, and who, you might find.

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And sometimes librarians are super heroes, after all they have all the knowledge required to solve many mysteries of the universe, or at least they know where to find the answers.

How to celebrate – Take your school librarian to lunch today.  Let your librarian know you appreciate their talents. Return all your over due books and pay the fines without arguing.

November 29th International Games Day

Now in it’s 9th year, this is a tremendous way to get people interested in their local Libraries. Libraries all across the world host a variety of games under their roofs to prove they are not just all about education.

Games such as chess, checkers, board games, role-playing games, video games, card games, trivia games, and even tournaments are run inside libraries.

It is a safe environment where any question you have about rules can easily be looked up. It can be a fun day and a great way to make new friends.

How to celebrate – Go to your local Library on November 29 and see what’s going on! If nothing is happening, offer to host an International Games Day for the Library. Try to make up a new board game.