World Book
Night, the annual handout of free books designed to engage infrequent
readers, which has previously turned away volunteers because it was
oversubscribed, will open up to all all-comers from 2014. But they will
have to pay for their own books.
This April, 500,000 books were given out by 20,000 volunteers, each of whom were allocated 20 copies of one of 20 titles selected for the event. These included Casino Royale by Ian Fleming and The Island by Victoria Hislop.
Next year, the number of free books given away by official volunteers is being halved, to 250,000 (12,500 batches of 20 titles), but now a wider pool of people can join in by giving away any book they choose, either new or from their own bookshelves, with a World Book Night sticker or bookplate. The event's organisers are hoping that the changes will increase the number of book givers to 100,000 by 2017.
World Book Night was founded in 2011 and set up as a standalone charity. From next year, it will be run by The Reading Agency. Chief Executive Miranda McKearney, said: "We intend to grow that [volunteer] army into a pivotal force for social change, reaching and inspiring the people who right now don't enjoy reading."
Also from 2014, those who sign up to give away copies of one of the selected free titles will be allocated copies depending on their reach. "We will be identifying those people who live or work in a community where they can give books, and maybe giving them more than 20, whereas others may get less," a TRA spokesperson said. The majority of books given in the past were handed out by individual volunteers; in April, 80% of books were given by individuals, and 20% were distributed through institutions such as prisons, hospitals and community centres.
Julia Kingsford, who steps down as chief executive of World Book Night in January, said: "There will be a base level that participants can apply for, and there'll then be the opportunity to apply for larger numbers of books for suitable individuals and institutions so, for example, a youth group leader can have sufficient books to give to their entire group or a prison can have hundreds to engage an entire unit."
The selection process for the 20 titles will also change: the public vote element is to be scrapped, and the choice made by a committee of experts. Previously, an editorial committee was guided by the public vote in their decision.
Kingsford said: "For this year the public won't have a direct say though we will be considering previous year's votes when the committee makes its decision. We've had over 10,000 books nominated by members of the public over the last few years so a huge wealth of opinion. But we also want to make sure that the list is more focused than ever on books that inspire the 35% of people who don't regularly read to do so, so we're placing greater emphasis on the opinions and choices of experts in reader development. We're also working more closely with publishers on the choice, as their support is vital to WBN being able to operate. But the list will still be a fantastic range of great books that are hugely loved and amazingly enjoyable."
The titles selected for 2014 will be announced on 23 November. World Book Night will run in the UK and US on 23 April 2014, the same day as UNESCO's International Day of the Book.
This April, 500,000 books were given out by 20,000 volunteers, each of whom were allocated 20 copies of one of 20 titles selected for the event. These included Casino Royale by Ian Fleming and The Island by Victoria Hislop.
Next year, the number of free books given away by official volunteers is being halved, to 250,000 (12,500 batches of 20 titles), but now a wider pool of people can join in by giving away any book they choose, either new or from their own bookshelves, with a World Book Night sticker or bookplate. The event's organisers are hoping that the changes will increase the number of book givers to 100,000 by 2017.
World Book Night was founded in 2011 and set up as a standalone charity. From next year, it will be run by The Reading Agency. Chief Executive Miranda McKearney, said: "We intend to grow that [volunteer] army into a pivotal force for social change, reaching and inspiring the people who right now don't enjoy reading."
Also from 2014, those who sign up to give away copies of one of the selected free titles will be allocated copies depending on their reach. "We will be identifying those people who live or work in a community where they can give books, and maybe giving them more than 20, whereas others may get less," a TRA spokesperson said. The majority of books given in the past were handed out by individual volunteers; in April, 80% of books were given by individuals, and 20% were distributed through institutions such as prisons, hospitals and community centres.
Julia Kingsford, who steps down as chief executive of World Book Night in January, said: "There will be a base level that participants can apply for, and there'll then be the opportunity to apply for larger numbers of books for suitable individuals and institutions so, for example, a youth group leader can have sufficient books to give to their entire group or a prison can have hundreds to engage an entire unit."
The selection process for the 20 titles will also change: the public vote element is to be scrapped, and the choice made by a committee of experts. Previously, an editorial committee was guided by the public vote in their decision.
Kingsford said: "For this year the public won't have a direct say though we will be considering previous year's votes when the committee makes its decision. We've had over 10,000 books nominated by members of the public over the last few years so a huge wealth of opinion. But we also want to make sure that the list is more focused than ever on books that inspire the 35% of people who don't regularly read to do so, so we're placing greater emphasis on the opinions and choices of experts in reader development. We're also working more closely with publishers on the choice, as their support is vital to WBN being able to operate. But the list will still be a fantastic range of great books that are hugely loved and amazingly enjoyable."
The titles selected for 2014 will be announced on 23 November. World Book Night will run in the UK and US on 23 April 2014, the same day as UNESCO's International Day of the Book.
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