Chicago - January 23, 2007

Novel Idea

Open Books

You’re a total bookworm. As in, you have to wriggle your way into your apartment because it’s overflowing with books.

No need to get squirmy. Donate those tomes to Open Books, a new nonprofit and soon-to-be bookstore that can use your doorstoppers to help pump up reading skills across Chicago.

The plan: The space (the old Vee-Jay and Brunswick Records building), due to open early next year, will house a bookshop, cafe, and lounge. On-site programs will include classes in adult, family, and computer literacy.

What they need now: Books, volunteers, donations, and support of all kinds.

How you can help: Easy. Pack up those stacks. Open Books will pick up in the city, and suburbanites can get prepaid shipping labels or a FedEx pick-up at home, work, or anywhere else.

And that’s what we call a happy ending.

Available online at open-books.org.

  Do-Gooder