By: Danielle Kappel, Library Media Specialist at DMS
The Dickinson Middle School Library hosted Blind Date with a Book for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders from February 1-14. Students were allowed to select prewrapped library books, based on the written descriptions, glued to the wrapping of the book. Blind date with a book encourages students to select books based purely on their descriptions instead of their covers. Students get the opportunity to choose something outside of the genres that they usually read. Folded into each book is a “Rate your Date” slip. Students rate how they liked the book and turn the slips into the library, where they are entered into a drawing to win prizes.
When asked what they liked about Blind Date with a Book, Addison Greyson, an 8th-grade student at DMS said, "It just gets me into new genres and new books that I never would have read before." 6th-grade student Caroline Utt shared the following on finding her favorite book, "I like that I found my new favorite book, and I never look in the historical fiction section."
The goal of the event is to encourage students to read and find texts they enjoy reading. This is the fourth year the library has hosted this event. In order to prepare over 100 books need to be wrapped, decorated, and ready for display at the front of the library. Every year Blind Date with a Book increases circulation by about 5%. We look forward to seeing that percentage grow as we engage more students with reading.