If something involves books, reading, writing, or literacy, we'd love to make it an Open Books EVENT! Are you organizing a book sale, bookswap, book club, writing group, story hour, or any other book/reading-themed event we can help with? Wonderful! Just let us know what you have in mind and how we can work together.

Here's what we've got coming up. Join us!

National Night Out
5 August 2008

Open Books and the StoryBus are delighted to have been invited by CAPS (Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy) to celebrate National Night Out in the 21st District. This nationwide event aims to reduce crime and drug use, and to bring together faith organizations, youth groups, and government and civic leaders from around the community. The 21st District includes Chinatown, Hyde Park, Bronzeville, and many other vibrant, historic Chicago communities.

This year's event will include local church choirs performing their own music, teenagers and children from the community performing as the 21st District Choir, and a special musical guest from Rockefeller Center! Open Books will be there to give away books for young StoryBus visitors and to spread the word about literacy programs. Volunteers are encouraged to come, bring friends and family, and wear an Open Books t-shirt if you've got one. Hope to see you there!

6-8 pm

Gwendolyn Brooks Park
4600 S. Greenwood
Chicago

FREE

Eli's Cheesecake Company/City of Chicago Farmers Markets
14 August 2008
21 August 2008

Support your local farmers and Open Books by visiting us at the Eli's Cheesecake Company/City of Chicago Farmers Markets! Pick up beets, broccoli and books. Find out more information about volunteer opportunities, how to donate books or make a financial contribution. There will be t-shirts, buttons and of course books for sale. Lettuce see you there!

8am - 1pm

Eli's Cheesecake Company Parking Lot
6701 W. Forest Preserve Dr.
Chicago

FREE

It Takes A Village
23 August 2008

Members of the Open Books Buddies reading mentor team are invited to this special event at a new early education center downtown. More details will be added soon, but buddies -- experienced and aspiring -- can mark their calendars for 10am - 2pm on Saturday, August 23. Stay tuned!

Art On Track
30 August 2008

Open Books is helping staff the world's largest mobile art exhibit...and spread awareness about literacy to its estimated 10,000 attendees! We need volunteers to man Orange Line platforms in the Loop, help event attendees onto and off the exhibit cars, and hand out bookmarks to ticketholders. Interested? Great! Sign up now to join us on the 30th!