FORT BLISS, Texas – Bored but can’t find anything to do? Alone and don’t feel like talking? Well, what about having a blind date? With a book!
The “Blind Date with a Book” event features novels wrapped with brown paper hiding the cover and written phrases that vaguely describe the type of story hidden inside. Patrons won’t know the title or author until they check the book out and unwrap it like a birthday present.
The Lt. Gen. Stanley R. Mickelson Community Library here is hosting the event until April 30, but it is only one of several events and themes the librarians set up throughout the year. This month they wanted to broaden reader’s horizons, according to Jo Ann Knight, the base library director.
“This event is designed to expose people to new authors they wouldn’t normally pick up,” Knight said. “That’s why it’s a blind date – you don’t know what you are getting,” said Knight.
Adventurous readers are really enjoying this, she added, and there is nothing to worry about since all of the books chosen for the event have been read and are recommended by the library staff.
“People said the hardest part was trust – you only have four words and it isn’t a lot to go on,” said Rachel Arizaga, Mickelson Library technician, about choosing a book. “I picked books that I personally enjoyed and that meant something to me or impacted my life. I think that is what we all did.”
The librarians chose books for the event that would appeal to a broad range of tastes, but concentrated on newer or lesser-known authors, she said.
Although nothing has been set for May, the librarians at Mickelson Library try to do a special program or theme each month to entice more people to pick up a book.
“We are trying to do things to get more people interested in reading,” said Arizaga.
With programs for children as well as adults, the library is a popular spot everyone should know about, said Knight.
For more information, go to www.blissmwr.com/library