Ten Ways to Celebrate Book Lovers Day!

Today is Book Lovers Day. There’s no way I can let such a day pass without proper celebration. If I think back over my life so far, books have been a constant source of entertainment and comfort. Reduce me down to my own common denominator, and you’d find I’m made of Delta soil, iced tea, and books. Probably.

I’m not sure how August 9 officially became Book Lovers Day, but here it is tightly wedged between Zucchini Day (yesterday) and Presidential Joke Day (tomorrow.) Not kidding. How best to celebrate Book Lovers Day? I have 10 ways. Choose one or two and tomorrow might turn out brighter than we expect it to be.

Ten Ways To Get Your Books On:

1. Support your Library! Check out books. Attend events. Volunteer. Subscribe to the library newsletter. Vote on important issues affecting the library. If you aren’t a library member, join today and get yourself a library card. Everyone should have a library card. That’s a fact.
2. Join or Start a Book Club. Your library and/or local bookstore will likely have a list of area book clubs. Online book clubs are fun, too. Reese Witherspoon has one. Not sure how to start your own? I have you covered with tips HERE.
3. Shop at your Local Bookstore. Books make fabulous gifts, and just like other small businesses, local bookstores need local dollars. Meeting a friend for coffee? Why not get together at the local bookstore? Change of venue can be good.
4. Make Reading a Way of Life. My mother read to me from a very early age. I still cherish those memories and books. She was (and still is) a voracious reader. Growing up, going to the library was a big deal. The day the teacher sent home a Scholastic Book Fair form was as exciting as fish stick day in the cafeteria (also a big day). Read to your children and grandchildren. They pick up your habits. Good and bad.
5. Write an Amazon review for a book you read and enjoyed (even if you didn’t buy your copy from Amazon). Here’s the thing: Amazon drives book sales. Authors NEED reviews to receive marketing promotion from Amazon. Many readers find new books / new authors via Goodreads, so Goodreads reviews are much needed, too. Reviews only take a minute to do, and they don’t have to be lengthy. (They should, however, be honest.)
6. Visit a Little Free Library. If you have one in your neighborhood, donate a book or two. Even more fun, start your own. Check out the Little Free Library website HERE for the location of all registered Little Free Libraries on the planet as well as tips for becoming a steward.
7. Support Literacy. Donate time and/or money to a literacy group in your area, such as Ozark Literacy Council in Northwest Arkansas. According to DoSomething.com, 1 in 4 children in America grow up without learning to read! There’s absolutely no reason for this.
8. Donate books to thrift stores and other community organizations. Resale shops often have wonderful book selections, so don’t overlook these spots.
9. Read Local. We eagerly support local artisans and local business and local pale ale and local eggs and produce, and that’s a good thing. Can’t we make #ReadLocal a thing, too? I say yes! Make it your mission to read books written by local authors and/or about local places. Libraries and bookstores have entire sections devoted to your city / state. This is a fun way to draw attention to local creatives who work hard for little recognition.
10. Tell a friend about a book you loved. Word of mouth marketing is priceless for authors. Priceless.

Sooooo, which of these things will you do?

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

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