Petit Library in Syracuse, New York is ready to set its patrons up with their perfect book. This program takes don’t judge a book by its cover to a whole new level.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Petit Branch Library located in the Westcott area of Syracuse is home to matchmaker Lisa Bankert. So far, Bankert has successfully set up about 40 people with a mystery book. This isn’t your typical mystery book; the suspense comes from not knowing what book is being checked out.
This is the first time that Petit has ever hosted Blind Date with a Book. The program takes books that may not be that popular and wraps them up in a brown wrapping paper with heart stickers or put them in heart decorated gift bags. Talk about taking the term ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’ to the next level.
The books in this program are broken up into three sections: children’s, teens, and adults. On the front of each hidden title is a description of the genre and the reading level. Once a book is checked out, the reader is allowed to take their mystery date home to unwrap and read.
“You don’t know what you’re getting,” Lisa Bankert said. “If it doesn’t work out you just bring the book back. You know it’s like the ultimate blind date.”
Those who participate in the program are given the opportunity to rate their book date.
The rating card lists:
True Love
Friend Zone
Deja Vu
It’s Complicated
No Chemistry
“It’s similar to rating a date like on Tinder or any other Bumble… a dating site,” Bankert said.
Many readers even leave additional notes on the card.
“I loved the writing,” read one of the submitted It’s Complicated cards. “The poetry/prose, the complexity of the characters, but I had a hard time connecting with the mother of the central character.”
The idea of having a program like Blind Date with a Book stemmed from a similar event that Petit Branch Library offered during the pandemic. When readers couldn’t pick out their own books, Librarian Specials were offered. This allowed readers to write out what type of book they were looking for and the librarians would pick out a book and respond back with a letter on why they made that decision. With the success of that program, Bankert and others at Petit were excited to see the outcome of Blind Date with a Book.
“People are kind of like..hmm this is interesting,” Bankert said. “What’s this all about?”
Blind Date with a Book at Petit Branch Library will take place only during the month of February.
Transcript
MAGGY HAGGERTY:Petit Library in the Wescott area of Syracuse is home to matchmaker Lisa Bankert.
HAGGERTY:Bankert has successfully set up about 40 dates so far for the library’s program, Blind Date with a Book.
LISA BANKERT: You don’t know what you’re getting. If it doesn’t work out you just bring the book back. You know it’s like the ultimate blind date.
HAGGERTY:These paper-wrapped and gift-bagged books are bound to be a success. If they’re not…readers can write a date review about how it went. Was it true love? Or did it lack chemistry? The shelves are Petit Library stay stacked so if the first date doesn’t work out…there’s always another chance.
BANKERT: It’s similar to rating a date like on Tinder or any other Bumble… a dating site.
HAGGERTY:They were confident of the program’s success because of something similar the offered during the pandemic.HAGGERTY: Petit Library offered Librarian Specials. A program where they offered books to people based off of descriptions. Now with the success of that program…they then were excited to begin a Blind Date with a Book.
HAGGERTY:We’ve all heard the phrase, ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’ and Petit Library literally means it. This program is split into three sections. One for children…one for teenagers…and one for adults. Bankert says checking out one if these books is like opening a present.
BANKERT: People are kind of like..hmm this is interesting. What’s this all about?
HAGGERTY: Bankert and other librarians at Petit Library will continue to work their magic during the month of February.