The READ THE WORLD Adult Reading Challenge is going full
steam ahead and will continue until December! If you haven’t already gotten a passport, there
is still time to begin your own reading journey. Visit the Reference Department as your first
destination, and then the world is your oyster!
We currently have issued a grand total of 109 passports to
reading challenge participants. Our 100th
passport was issued on 6/19/2013 to Sarah Klimko; congratulations, Sarah! Additionally, there are also a dozen DPL staff
members taking part in the challenge (we do collect passport stamps, but are
ineligible for prizes).
Remember, this doesn’t have to be a short trip;
think of it as an extended cruise, rather than just a quick weekend getaway. When you complete one passport level (Tourist or Explorer), you can
always UPGRADE to a higher level during the year. So far, there have been 7 readers upgraded
and two intrepid Globetrotters who have finished their 40 book passports and
started off around the world for a second tour!
Will Bynum was our
first patron to complete the Globetrotter level. For this honor, he was informally presented
with a copy of the novel “Around the World in 80 Days”. Jean Coquilt has also reached patron Globetrotter
status! On the staff side, Rhonda Bolan also speedily completed her
Globetrotter passport! (I’m almost
there, but not quite home yet, with 35 books read!)
Just a reminder about passport validation: Please have all
book information properly recorded in your Passport, and have the corresponding
circulation receipts with you, before stopping at Reference for a stamp.
For reading suggestions, be sure to check out the Book
Display cases located next to the DVD/CD Media Room. I’m going to try to keep
these going with a variety of travel themes and challenge suitable books
identified by country. Additionally,
there is also a binder in Ready Reference listing more available titles and
their associated countries.
Our challenge goal is to visit AS MANY COUNTRIES AS
POSSIBLE. Currently, 127 countries
around the globe (and around the library) have had travelers.
Where will you go next?