Look: Not Hidden Now!
Celebrating U.S. Black History Month BookCrossing Style
by ThanksMomApril 7, 2008
The next best thing to an Official BookCrossing Zone (OBCZ) may be a BookCrossing display? I’ve not been able to establish a permanent zone but one of the tasks of my job as a Park Ranger is to make displays. Thanks to BookCrossers tabby-cat-owner, lake44,
classicfox, LyekkaMarengo, SCOBCZ, thescreaming, infiniteTBR, southernfryed, nicolesinger, Trekwoman, lumbermoose, Jennyo, GorgeousGlo, glory-to-glory, chubsiewubsie, gothamgal, siriradha, grubsneerg, etherea, elle311 and 1lilbookworm, I was able to combine
work and pleasure.
Over 60 books were presented as a ‘book buffet’ to the general public in an attempt to celebrate the stories by, for, and about Blacks in America. The title of the exhibit (Look: Not Hidden Now!) had at least a double meaning- the books are not hidden now, nor are their stories. The range of stories and reading levels was marvelous. Small picture books were nestled next to paperbacks for teens and hard bound books for adults. Newbery Award winners, Pulitzer Prize winners, Oprah’s Book Club picks, National Book Award winners, Boston Globe/Horn Book Awards for Fiction, ALA Notable Books, Coretta Scott King Author Award winners were represented. Classics, such as Sounder, or A Raisin in the Sun, visited with Barack Obama or Sidney Poitier’s personal stories, or even a Michael Jordan inspirational text.
The end of February came and there are still 41 books left on the table. Two of the books traveling free have reported back, maybe someday the others... We had two big ice storms and some snow in February so 21 escapees from the display is actually a good number! The staff has agreed to 'forget' Black History month is over so perhaps some of the remainders will find a new home, too. I had to change the exhibit to "Women's History Month" since that is what March is designated, and some of these books will do double duty. We also have a special Underground Railroad event scheduled for April, I have every hope that these books will find a new home.
Over 60 books were presented as a ‘book buffet’ to the general public in an attempt to celebrate the stories by, for, and about Blacks in America. The title of the exhibit (Look: Not Hidden Now!) had at least a double meaning- the books are not hidden now, nor are their stories. The range of stories and reading levels was marvelous. Small picture books were nestled next to paperbacks for teens and hard bound books for adults. Newbery Award winners, Pulitzer Prize winners, Oprah’s Book Club picks, National Book Award winners, Boston Globe/Horn Book Awards for Fiction, ALA Notable Books, Coretta Scott King Author Award winners were represented. Classics, such as Sounder, or A Raisin in the Sun, visited with Barack Obama or Sidney Poitier’s personal stories, or even a Michael Jordan inspirational text.
The end of February came and there are still 41 books left on the table. Two of the books traveling free have reported back, maybe someday the others... We had two big ice storms and some snow in February so 21 escapees from the display is actually a good number! The staff has agreed to 'forget' Black History month is over so perhaps some of the remainders will find a new home, too. I had to change the exhibit to "Women's History Month" since that is what March is designated, and some of these books will do double duty. We also have a special Underground Railroad event scheduled for April, I have every hope that these books will find a new home.
