Share the love of reading

Red totes soon will be popping up at locations around the county, and by Sept. 10, Amy Anderson Miller hopes they are overflowing with books.

As executive director of READ Jackson County, Miller is trying something new this year to promote reading during International Literacy Awareness Week, Sept. 6-10.

The agency is sponsoring the first Jackson County Book Drive in hopes of finding new readers for used books.

“No book ever needs thrown away,” Miller said. “It simply needs a new reader.”

The drive will officially begin Sept. 6. Readers may donate their gently used books by placing them in any of the red totes.

“We are up to around 70 red tote locations in Jackson County,” she said. “That’s a lot for our first year. I am tickled about how well-received it has been.”

All types of books at any reading level will be accepted, even textbooks, which will be donated to the new Jackson County Learning Center in Seymour, Miller said.

Other collected books will be made available beginning Sept. 10 at a used book library at the Community Agency Building in downtown Seymour.

The library will serve adults and their families who receive literacy tutoring from READ Jackson County, as well as the general public, which will be able to purchase donated books for $1 or less during regular book sales. The first sale will be held Sept. 10.

“We take for granted the ability to go into a library or book store and pick out a book to take home to read, but for someone who struggles to read, those places can be very uncomfortable,” Miller said. “This library will provide a welcoming and encouraging atmosphere for our clients and will supplement our existing library of literacy resources.”

Proceeds from book sales will benefit READ Jackson County’s basic literacy, English as a second language, GED and workplace literacy tutoring programs.

Miller said the idea for the book drive started last year with a small book sale the organization held as a fundraiser at One Chamber Square.

Board members donated their own books they no longer needed, including Miller, who, with her mother’s help, got together hundreds of her father’s old books.

After the sale, there were still many titles left, Miller said, and that’s when she started to think that there were probably lots of people who had books sitting around they had already read and no longer wanted.

“You don’t throw a book away,” she said. “It just needs a new reader.”
Also taking place during International Literacy Awareness Week is the annual Put Your Nose in a Book Day, where READ Jackson County encourages everyone to “Stop, Drop and Read.”

The event started back in 2003.

Local schools, libraries, nursing homes and other locations will feature guest readers wearing red noses throughout the day Sept. 8, including Seymour Mayor Craig Luedeman, Police Chief Bill Abbott, Fire Chief Fred Hines, Jackson County Sheriff Marc Lahrman, District 66 State Rep. Terry Goodin and many others.

Jackson County Public Library will celebrate Put Your Nose in a Book Day at 3:30 p.m. at the Crothersville branch and at 6 p.m. at the Seymour branch with “nosy” animal-themed stories, crafts and activities. Children must be accompanied by an adult and registration is preferred.

You can register by calling the Crothersville Library at 793-2927 or the Seymour Library at 522-3412.

For more information about the book drive, Put Your Nose in a Book Day or READ Jackson County, visit www.readjacksoncounty.org or call 523-8688.

Red tote locations

Seymour — First Presbyterian Church, 13th Floor Music, Bryan Bowman Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Central Christian Church, Seymour City Hall, Community Foundation of Jackson County, Cortland Diner, Cummins Seymour Engine Plant, Dr. Downing & Associates Optometrist, Dr. Linda Fischer Optometrist, Dr. John C. Walter Family Dentistry, Farrow & Thompson Law Firm, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Girls Inc., Grindley & Grindley, Home Products International, all locations of Jackson County Bank, Jackson County Visitor Center, Jackson County Community Learning Center, both locations of The Peoples Bank, Sonya’s Party + Cakes Created, St. John’s Lutheran School Sauers, Schwarz Pharma, Greater Seymour Chamber of Commerce, Seymour Clinic of Chiropractic, The Tribune, SIHO Insurance, The Office Center, Therapy Works, Union Hardware, Walgreens and WZZB/WXKU
Brownstown — Brownstown Hardware, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Jackson County Courthouse/Purdue Extension, Jackson County Bank, Pewter Hall
Crothersville — Crothersville Community Schools
Medora — Rumpke and State Bank of Medora