Maria’s Bookshop is hosting its first-ever read-a-thon, which runs through Wednesday.
Participants can sign up on Maria’s website to reserve an hour-long time slot to read in the shop’s front window. Readers may bring any book they like, and their participation helps raise money for Maria’s Literary Foundation.
Those wishing to donate or sponsor a reader can do so through the bookshop’s website. QR codes linking directly to a donation page are posted in Maria’s. Donors can sponsor individual readers or contribute to support all readers.
The Literary Foundation is a nonprofit affiliated with the bookshop that aims to improve access to books across Southwest Colorado, including for schools, families and incarcerated individuals.
It also helps fund author events and other programs to promote reading and literacy in the community.
“The nice thing about the Literary Foundation is that it gives us some flexibility in the kinds of programming we can put on, such as author events or events in our reading room,” said Nina Lundstrom, executive director of the Literary Foundation.
The reading room, a newly opened space at 145 East College Drive, features books and cozy chairs and is open to anyone. Read-a-thon participants are welcome to use the space.
Participants are not only reading for a good cause – they also have a chance to win prizes. Those who log the most hours or bring in the most donors will be recognized.
“Our top readers and top fundraisers will win prizes, like a year of books from the bookshop,” Nina said. “So that’s a handful of books a month.”
Community members have been quick to take part in the read-a-thon, which started Thursday, including 7-year-old Soren Johnston, who read in the window at Maria’s at 3 p.m. Saturday.
“We were walking by and Soren saw the sign for the fundraiser and was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I want do that!’” said Jenny Johnston, Soren’s mother, who is also a columnist for The Durango Herald.
Johnston, an avid reader, said she has always emphasized the importance of books to her children and was thrilled to see an event that encourages community engagement and reading for a good cause.
“I have a library in my house, and reading is super important to me,” Johnston said. “I’ve made it a big priority for my kids – to just put books in their hands as soon as I could.”
Lundstrom said she wasn’t sure what kind of response the read-a-thon would receive, as it was a new endeavor for the bookshop, but she was pleasantly surprised by the community’s enthusiasm.
“When we first sent out word about what we were going to be doing, we were not sure if anyone was going to respond,” Lundstrom said. “But we were excited to see how quickly people signed up. We are always looking for cool, creative ideas and ways to engage the community.”
ckabot@durangoherald.com
An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect title for Nina Lundstrom, who is executive director of the Literary Foundation. An earlier headline also said Maria’s Bookshop is hosting the first read-a-thon in Durango. It is the first read-a-thon hosted by Maria’s. The error was made in editing.
