This summer the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy will be running the Book Bike to support and promote literacy in the Columbia Valley. The Book Bike aka “Book Fairy” has an array of free books for every age that will set up at certain locations in Invermere, Edgewater, and Canal Flats throughout the week. There are books for children, teenagers, and adults and all of the books vary in genre allowing everyone to find a book that suits them. The books will be set up on tables for people to take home with them and to enjoy.
Due to COVID-19 there will be certain protocols that CBAL will be following with giving and receiving of books. Books will be quarantined, and sanitized, and social distancing rules will apply. The facilitator, Brooklynne, will give everyone information on what the protocol is before browsing. It is asked that people use the hand sanitizer that will be provided before they touch any of the books. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the Book Bike will alternate between locations in Invermere including Pothole Park, Spiderweb Park (behind the Invermere hospital), Mount Nelson Skate park, and downtown at the Cenotaph. On Tuesday mornings throughout the summer the Book Bike will be set up at the park adjacent to the Edgewater Community Hall. On Thursday mornings the Book Bike will be set up at the playground near the Canal Flats Civic Centre. This is the third summer the Book Bike program has been run, with last year showing wide success as 30 to 40 books were handed out to people a day. CBAL distributed more than 700 free books last year through a variety of programs and literacy initiatives. Watch for Brooklynne on the Book Bike this summer and get your free book!
The Book Bike accepts donations of used or new books for all ages. We are short of books for ages two to six years old, but are happy to take any type of donation. There will be a donation bin outside of the CBAL Office at 712B 10th Street, if you want to drop them off there. If you live in Edgewater or Canal Flats and want to donate books to the CBAL Book Bike contact us to arrange a drop off. Please contact Sandy Kalesnikoff, Community Literacy Coordinator at 250-409-4251 or email [email protected].
Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) is a non-profit organization that develops, promotes and delivers free literacy programs and services for people of all ages in the Columbia Basin. CBAL offers a range of programs such as programs for adults and seniors who want to improve their literacy, math, and technology skills; settlement services for newcomers to Canada; English language classes, family literacy programs for children ages newborn through six years old, as well as many others.
