Read All About It!

A very big Thank You goes out to all of the volunteers, donors, sponsors and our partner Better World Books!  With out your help Open Books would not be able to continue its mission of raising awareness about illiteracy, improving reading skills, and spreading the love of books in Chicago and beyond.

Volunteers came out to drive ZipCars, carry, sort and pack books to be sold at Better World Books.  They braved the winds, cold and at times rain all while having fun.  Donors give yourself a hand because we packed and delivered 835 cartons of books or two very big truckloads.

Not only will those books help to support literacy programs but they will be re-used and re-loved keeping them out of the landfill.

The event was a smashing success and everyone is asking when can we do it again!

Jump on over to Better World to browse books and purchase some of the amazing titles that came in or any of the other books that Better World sells.  Every purchase made through our sidewalk sale will help to support Open Books and its programs!

http://www.BetterWorld.com/OpenBooks

Good morning, friends of Open Books! To start the week off right, I’m pleased to recognize a new Volunteer All-Star. Rich has been an invaluable addition to the field trip and reading buddies teams, and we’re so grateful for his service. He’s awesome with the kids, too! My favorite overheard quote from Rich to a young creative writing student at Open Books? Very gently: “You really can’t be a missionary and a gang banger at the same time. You’ll have to decide.” PERFECT!

1. How would you spend your last 24 hours if you knew the world would end in the morning?
Oh, wow, that’s a tough one. You saved the hardest for first! I’ll have to plead the fifth.
2. What was your dream job when you were 5?
Well…I was fascinated with traffic lights when I was five, and I wanted to work with those when I grew up. I was a weird kid.
3. If you could have dinner with 3 people (real or fictional), who would you invite and what would you eat?
Jesus Christ, Allen Ginsberg, and Leonard Nimoy. Given my dinnermates, we should probably go kosher.
4. What was your favorite childhood toy or game?
Uno.
5. If you had one superpower, what would it be?
The ability to acquire any knowledge on command.
6. What secret obsession do you have that no one knew about before this interview?
Scrabble.
7. What makes you laugh uncontrollably?
Marx Brothers movies, old Peanuts comic strips, Tex Avery cartoons, and NPR’s “Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me!”
8. What book are you reading right now?
The latest John Hodgman book, More Information Than You Require.
9. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
A tie between green tea and hazelnut gelato.
10. What is playing on your iPod/record player these days?
Several NPR podcasts. I hate to admit it, being an old fart, but I play that new Duffy album a lot.

Good afternoon to the entire Open-Books community!!!! I am William L. Berger, however you may call me Will as many of my close friends do. I am currently a senior graduating from Columbia College Chicago with a Bachelors of Arts in marketing with a concentration in advertising. I was born in Sao Paulo Brazil on January 22, 1983. After living in Brazil for only a year my family decided to return to the United States and live in California outside of San Francisco. About a year after that, my family relocated one more time to Evanston, Illinois where we still live today. Throughout my life the only way of retracing my roots across the country and hemisphere has been through books. Although I no longer speak Portuguese, the translations of Brazilian poetry are soothing and inspiring.

My free time is normally spent reading on the beach, touring the Botanical Gardens, working out, or enjoying the company of loved ones. Reading has always been there for me, opening up the most boring dull afternoons and allowing me to explore the realities of past lives and future ideas. Before dislocating my shoulders swimming, I was an all state high school water polo player and also a member of Evanston’s high school swim team

I believe that the Chicago land area is the best place in the world because it has such a diverse variety of people and places. I also believe that reading is the greatest skill humans can possess. Through reading, all the great mysteries of the Universe can be revealed. Being able to help people learn skills that allow them to survive better and live fuller lives is a privilege. Knowing the value reading books can bring to a persons life, combined with the knowledge that so many people do not possess basic reading skills compelled me to reach out to Open Books because they not only see the problem, but have taken action and begun implementing programs to solve the problem.

I am excited about this Fall internship program and the work we will be doing at Open Books.

The House Theatre is generously giving book donors who bring in a Sci-Fi book during the Great American Book Drive a 10 dollar gift certificate which can be used for either tickets or merchandise!  The House Theatre is an exciting non-profit theatre that is entering their 8th season. They now have a new home at the Chopin Theatre located at 1543 W. Division St.

Their Book Drive ties into the newest show Dave Davinci Saves The Universe.  The same creative team that captivated audiences in 2007 with the smash-hit The Sparrow, are re-imagining their 2005 hit, Dave Davinci Saves The Universe.  Written by Chris Mathews, Jake Minton and Nathan Allen, directed by Nathan Allen, and presented by The House Theatre of Chicago, Dave Davinci Saves The Universe will run through November 8, 2008.  Tickets are $10-$29, and may be purchased by calling (773) 251-2195 or online at www.thehousetheatre.com.

A big Open Books thank you goes out to Patricia and all of the team at Reed’s Business in Oakbrook!  They worked hard to collect and deliver over 2 pallets of books.  The drive was part of a world wide bookdrive that RE Cares conducted.

RE Cares was created to get employees volunteering at events generated at their local branch.  Keep an eye out for RE Cares in the community they sound like they are up to some wonderful things!  For more information about Reed check out their website www.reedbusiness.com.