WEST HOLLYWOOD—The city of West Hollywood will be participating in World Book Night (WBN) on April 23. The city encourages people to join them from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The event is meant to promote literacy in America after a report titled, “Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America,” released in 2004 by the National Endowment for the Arts revealed what Americans could gain from adding reading to their daily activities. According to the World Book Night US website, “reading for pleasure improves literacy, actively engaging emerging readers in their desire to read. Reading changes lives, improves employability, social interaction, enfranchisement, and can have a positive effect on mental health and happiness. Book readers are more likely to participate in positive activities such as volunteering, attending cultural events, and even physical exercise.”
The event encourages people to donate to their cause to provide reading material to those who don’t read avidly. The minimum donation of $25 provides 25 books to new readers and students, $50 provides 50 books for teen readers, $100 dollars provides $100 books for residents in assisted living homes, $150 provides 150 books for middle graders to own their own books and $250 provides 150 books to military personnel overseas. The final donation option allows people to choose the desired amount to donate to WBN starting from an absolute minimum of $10.
According to the World Book Night US website, the event has taken place in five other locations throughout Southern California. Eso Won, located on 4327 Degnan Boulevard in Los Angeles kicked off the World Book Night events in California on April 17 at 6:00 p.m. and featured author Terry McMillan and her book, “Waiting to Exhale.” the following events took place on April 22: the B&N Grove on 189 The Grove Drive in Los Angeles had Michael Connelly. Skylight Books on 1818 Vermont Avenue, where Derek Kirk Kim presented, “Same Difference.” The Last Bookstore located on 453 S. Spring Street in Los Angeles where Ransom Riggs presented the novel, “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” at 7:30 p.m. Diesel, located on 23410 Civic Center Way, where Jesse Andrews presented, “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” at 7:00 p.m.
West Hollywood’s World Book Night events will be held in two places, the first being the West Hollywood City Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room located on 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. The second location to participate in the event is the Plummer Park Community Center located at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard.
