Give A Book, Get A Book

 Give a Book, Keep a Book

With the passing of Dolly Parton, and as we honored her with a one-day tribute, I’ve found myself thinking about something that has been on my heart lately. I have done something similar at my other job where we had Give Note, Take a note. Kiddos would leave a kind note for someone who needed a kind word. I have always wanted to do something on a bigger scale and so in following in Dolly's footsteps with believing in the power of books, imagination, kindness, and giving people a little something to hold onto, I introduce to you:

The idea is simple.

Anyone can donate whatever amount they are able to help sponsor a book. That donation will go directly toward placing a book on a special shelf for someone who may need one.

Someone who comes into the Bookhouse and sees a book they would love to have—but maybe can't afford to purchase right now—can take one from the shelf. No questions asked. No explanation needed. Just an honor system built on kindness.

As someone who has felt financial struggles in difficult seasons of my life, I know that books can sometimes feel like a luxury.

Sometimes the money has to go toward gas.

Sometimes it goes toward groceries.

Sometimes you see a book your child desperately wants, or one you would love to read yourself, and you have to say, maybe another time.

And sometimes, as good human beings, we become so used to putting everyone else first that doing something as simple as buying ourselves a book becomes something we talk ourselves out of.

But everyone deserves a moment for themselves.

Everyone deserves the chance to get lost in a story, discover a new world, find comfort in familiar pages, or simply experience the joy of walking away with a book that is theirs to keep.

Through Give a Book, Keep a Book, every donation—no matter the amount—will help make that possible.

Here are a few examples of what your donation can do:

• $3 can help place a used children's book on the shelf.

• $5 can sponsor a used book.

• $20 can help provide a gently used book, a book from a local author, or a new children's book.

• $30–$40 can sponsor a brand-new book.

Of course, donations of any amount will be welcome, and every dollar donated to this program will go toward putting books on the Give a Book, Keep a Book shelf.

And because this is being created in honor of Dolly and her incredible legacy, each sponsored book can include a small note letting the recipient know who helped make that book possible.

You can sponsor a book in your own name, in honor or memory of someone you love, or remain anonymous.

And if you would like to leave a little bit of Dolly's kindness behind, you can simply write:

From Dolly. 

My hope is that this shelf becomes more than just a place to find a free book.

I hope it becomes a reminder that kindness can be quiet. That generosity doesn't have to be grand. That sometimes, something as simple as a book placed in someone's hands at exactly the right moment can mean more than we will ever know.

So, in honor of Dolly, let's keep the kindness going.

Give a book. Keep a book. Pass on a little love.​