Patrons of may walk away with something free tonight, as a group of local residents do their part to spread some literary wealth.
Embracing an idea out of the United Kingdom last year, several companies and citizens will be handing out free books in observation of World Book Night.
"It is wonderful to see that reading and the love of spreading the written word is still alive," said Liz Wiles, an employee of , in Columbia.
"I really want to get out there and meet people who aren't as passionate about books and talk to them about why I love them," Wiles said.
Daedalus Books selected 15 titles from an international list for World Book Night. Fifteen people will be handing out the books for the company and informing people across Howard County about the importance of reading and literature, according to Wiles.
The book fairies will also be spreading the gift of prose at local soup kitchens like Elizabeth's House, in Laurel, and , in Columbia.
This year marks the first official World Book Night in the U.S., after the idea spread through social media in the U.K. last year. The date of April 23 is also particularly special to bibliophiles, as it is the day of William Shakespeare's birth and death.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
