Blind Date with a Book? What a novel idea! Cranbrook bibliophiles (people who collect or have a great love of books) attended this CBAL event and it was an evening full of surprises and rich conversations about books and reading.
A local bookstore selected a wide variety of titles (from fiction to spy thrillers to essays to memoires). Over 200 books were wrapped in brown paper to hide the title and author. Each book had a label with a snippet of information about the book. The label was designed to intrigue and capture the attention of those attending. Participants chose books based on nothing more than this short bit of information.
People who attended the $30 event wandered around the bookstore after it had closed for the day. While eating appetizers and enjoying a beverage, participants browsed the labels and decided which wrapped book they would take home with them. For many, choosing only one book proved too difficult, so any books beyond the first one were available for an additional $10. Over 60 people attended.
Blind Date with a Book is a fabulously fun event. There is something magical about being in a bookstore after hours and sharing the experience with others. It’s entertaining to see how impulsive some are as they walk out with an armful of books, while others endlessly ponder which book to choose.
CBAL Cranbrook is very fortunate to have such supportive community partners in Erin Dalton of Lotus Books and Heidi Romich of The Heid Out to partner in Blind Date with a Book.
Our Blind Date with a Book events have gained momentum over the last year and created quite a buzz (Kimberley now hosts their own Blind Date with a Book event, too). They have also been terrific fundraisers for CBAL. We look forward to the next Blind Date with a Book!
Alison Facey, Community Literacy Coordinator – Cranbrook
Carol Fairhurst, Community Literacy Coordinator – Kimberley
Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy
A local bookstore selected a wide variety of titles (from fiction to spy thrillers to essays to memoires). Over 200 books were wrapped in brown paper to hide the title and author. Each book had a label with a snippet of information about the book. The label was designed to intrigue and capture the attention of those attending. Participants chose books based on nothing more than this short bit of information.
People who attended the $30 event wandered around the bookstore after it had closed for the day. While eating appetizers and enjoying a beverage, participants browsed the labels and decided which wrapped book they would take home with them. For many, choosing only one book proved too difficult, so any books beyond the first one were available for an additional $10. Over 60 people attended.
Blind Date with a Book is a fabulously fun event. There is something magical about being in a bookstore after hours and sharing the experience with others. It’s entertaining to see how impulsive some are as they walk out with an armful of books, while others endlessly ponder which book to choose.
CBAL Cranbrook is very fortunate to have such supportive community partners in Erin Dalton of Lotus Books and Heidi Romich of The Heid Out to partner in Blind Date with a Book.
Our Blind Date with a Book events have gained momentum over the last year and created quite a buzz (Kimberley now hosts their own Blind Date with a Book event, too). They have also been terrific fundraisers for CBAL. We look forward to the next Blind Date with a Book!
Alison Facey, Community Literacy Coordinator – Cranbrook
Carol Fairhurst, Community Literacy Coordinator – Kimberley
Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy
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