National Book Lover's Day
Posted by Judy on Aug 9th 2019
A day for all those who love to read, August 9th is National Book Lover’s Day. It’s a day to be celebrated by finding a favorite reading place, a good book (whether it be fiction or non-fiction) and reading the day away.
Reading has come a long way since the very first books used parchment or vellum (calf skin) for the book pages and wood for the covers. While public libraries appeared in the Middle Ages, it was common for them to chain books to a shelf or desk to prevent theft.
The invention of the printing press and moveable type mechanized book production, making books available in greater number. The introduction of the paperback book in the 1940s provided a less-expensive alternative to hardback books, making books even more accessible to the public.
And while e-books are popular, particularly for indie and self-publishers, print books are surviving – even thriving. During 2018, 695 million printed books were sold in the US, up from 687 million in 2017.