Western Kentucky University Athletics and Charles M. Moore Insurance presented “Books & Baskets†at the Lady Toppers’ home game on Nov. 14.
The Lady Toppers season opener against Murray State started at 8 p.m. Fans who donated a new or gently used children’s book received one free reserved ticket to the game. Book collection began at Entrances 1 and 4 at Diddle Arena at 7 p.m. Donated books will be given to area organizations that support children in need.
The collaboration was prompted by Coach Mary Taylor Cowles’ soon to be released children’s book “Dream Big!†which is about her lifelong goal to be a Lady Topper. WKU received a grant earlier this year from the NCAA to produce the book that will be distributed free to children in grades 3-5 in Bowling Green and Warren County schools. Drobocky Orthodontics is the book sponsor.
In addition to the “Books & Baskets†event, Coach Cowles will appear at schools in Logan County as part of the Book Fest partners “Fall into Books†authors event the following week.
“Fall into Books†will take place Nov. 17-21. The Book Fest partners, with Citizens First Bank, will sponsor visits to area schools by notable children’s authors Mary Downing Hahn, Pam Walker and John Adams. Adams is a 2008 winner of the WKU Libraries’ Evelyn Thurman Young Readers Book Award. The Book Fest partners will also purchase and distribute free books by these authors to students at some of the neediest schools that receive author visits.
SOKY Book Fest is a partnership project of WKU Libraries, Warren County Public Library, and Barnes & Noble Booksellers. The partnership’s mission is to encourage reading and the love of books and to be a positive force in promoting literacy in the region and state.
This week, WKU Libraries presented several singers at Java City, the coffee house of Helm Library. One of them was Tommy Johnson along with his band, the Song Farmers performed their unique brand of American roots music to an enthusiastic, cheering crowd on Wednesday. Tommy, a native of Franklin, KY is internationally acclaimed as a songwriter and performer. We hope to have them return next Fall for another engagement.
The other was Louisville Singer/songwriter and WKU sophomore Lauren Conkin performed to an appreciative crowd at Java City. Her performance drew comments including “She’s really good, bring her back!” and “She’s a diamond in the rough.”
