A banner advertises the Snuggle Up With a Book Ball outside the Johnson County Public Library Services Center in downtown Franklin. The event, scheduled for Feb. 25, invites participants to donate money to the library foundation, then take time to sit down and read.
RYAN TRARES | DAILY JOURNAL
In February weather, a comfy couch, warm blanket and good book can cure those wintertime blues.
If doing so helps support programs of the Johnson County Public Library, all the better.
The library system is preparing for its fourth annual Snuggle Up With a Book Ball on Feb. 25. The fundraiser encourages people to register, donate and then, in a twist, not attend the event. People can get cozy with a book anytime and anywhere, while teaming up with other avid readers to raise money for the library’s visiting author series.
“We wanted to come up with a unique event that is accessible to everyone. Everyone reads differently, and the environment we read in is one of those factors,” said Caleb Drake, president of the Johnson County Public Library Foundation. “You can create your own ideal reading environment, and get reading.”
The Snuggle Up With a Book Ball was created by the Johnson County Public Library Foundation in 2019 as a unique way to raise money for library programs, particularly the Authors at JCPL series.
Since 2016, the foundation has assisted the library system with supplemental funding to support a variety of programs, all with the goal of promoting literacy in the county. Through its fundraising, the foundation has brought a number of best-selling national writers to the county for presentations, discussions and book signings. Those events have been free to the public.
Last year, the series featured Jennifer Weiner, Kathy Reichs and Janet Evanovich.
“This series is a great opportunity to have a unique experience and meet the people they love to read, and also learn about how they write, why they write, and maybe get a different perspective on different cultures,” Drake said.
Craig Johnson, the creator of the Longmire series of Western-themed detective novels, also came to Franklin in 2022. His experience led him to be named the chair of this year’s Snuggle Up With a Book Ball.
This is the first time a visiting author has served as the chair for the event.
“It shows that the people we’re bringing, they actually find this program valuable,” Drake said.
In a letter posted to the Johnson County Public Library’s website to promote the fundraiser, Johnson emphasized the importance of libraries in the community, particularly in Johnson County.
“I think you can judge the quality of a community by the strength of its libraries and your Johnson County Public Libraries provide equal access to information and resources for personal and professional development — which is quite a feat,” he said in the letter. “JCPL facilities host thousands of community meetings annually, and library staff connects residents with resources to improve lives with a multitude of programs that encourage citizens to increase their life skills.”
The vitality the library system brings to the county is what makes the upcoming fundraiser so important, Johnson said.
“I hope you’ll join me in this year’s Snuggle Up with a Book Ball — the great news is you don’t have to wear uncomfortable clothes, make small talk, or try and dance — just donate and snuggle up with a book. What could be better than that?” he wrote.
Donors to the Snuggle Up With a Book Ball can choose from different levels of contribution and earn literary-themed titles: a donation of less than $50 earns you the distinction of “Potter’s Pal,” while gifts of $250 or more make you “Austen’s Angel.”
People can register and donate all in one fell swoop on a special foundation website, jcplf.org/snuggleteamregister. A new opportunity has been added this year for participants to form teams. Local book clubs, clusters of friends or any other groups can band together to amplify their giving potential.
The team that donates the most will be invited to a special private event with a future Authors at JCPL visiting author.
“You can encourage people to gather their friends together and create kind of a micro-event, then post about it during the time we’re doing the event,” Drake said.
AT A GLANCE
Snuggle Up With a Book Ball
What: A fundraiser of the Johnson County Public Library Foundation that encourages people to RSVP with a donation and then snuggle up with a book anywhere, anytime, with anyone, or no one.
When: Feb. 25
What it supports: Donations provide supplemental funding for Johnson County Public Library programs, such as the Authors at JCPL visiting writer series.
How to sign up: Go to jcplf.org/snuggle
