Some World Book Night Reminders

Plans for World Book Night are moving ahead full speed, with givers choosing their pickup locations last week, and bookstores busy creating displays, planning events, and lining up press coverage.

Here’s a quick reminder of some of things booksellers do and don’t need to do in the run-up to the April 23 celebration of books and reading:

• Booksellers do not need to order books. Books are being organized and sent by WBN based on the book givers’ choices.
   
• WBN will provide the bookstore with the names and e-mails of the givers who have chosen the store as their pick-up location, so that bookstore staff can notify the book givers of their WBN plans and promote their events.
   
• Bookstores should promote all of their WBN plans, including their parties for book givers, on store signage, on their websites, and via social media.
   
• Booksellers can find WBN promotional materials in the BookWeb’s DIY; just added are customizable thank-you certificates for book givers.
   
• Local media coverage of WBN is key. Do use all of the store’s media contacts to promote coverage of WBN events. Booksellers looking for suggestions and talking points should contact ABA Membership and Marketing Officer Meg Smith.
   
• Stores not serving as pick-up locations can request a copy of an 18" x 36" color poster promoting World Book Night and the joy of reading via an e-mail to Smith by March 15. Quantities are limited, and requests will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The poster will be sent in the store’s next Red Box mailing. (The poster was mailed at the end of February to all ABA members that signed up to be WBN pick-up locations.)
   
• For the latest on WBN, visit worldbooknight.org and follow the event on Facebook and Twitter.