The Bookmark Project: April

Photo illustration by Stacy Reich*

You cannot get through a single day

without having an impact on the world 

around you. What you do makes a difference, 

and you have to decide what kind of

difference you want to make.

—Jane Goodall

In our modern world nothing may be

taken for granted — not even the

spring songs that herald the return of

the birds.

—Rachel Carson

Spring may officially begin in March, but in many parts of the country it doesn’t start to look and feel like spring until April. The word spring, in terms of the season, has its origins in an archaic noun meaning “act or time of springing or appearing; the beginning, birth, rise or origin.” Spring is a time of renewal and it’s the perfect time to renew your connection to the natural world. Spending time in nature can infuse you with a sense of gratitude and awe for our amazing planet, and may inspire you to take action to help preserve and protect our only home for future generations. Earth Day is April 22, and with activities all over the United States and online, there are many ways to participate. Click here for ideas and opportunities to help safeguard our precious planet: https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2025/

April is also National Poetry Month. At its best, poetry can be transformational, reminding us of our shared humanity and bringing us together. Poetry is an essential part of our culture and there’s no better time than National Poetry Month to discover a new poet, revisit the works of an old favorite, or try your hand at writing a poem. The first National Poetry Month took place in 1996 and was organized by the Academy of American Poets. The Academy’s website is a great place to visit for information on events, activities and resources for educators or anyone who wants to celebrate this vital art form. Click here: https://poets.org/national-poetry-month. And don’t forget to visit the Friends bookstore and take a peek at our poetry section!

The Bookmark Project is an ongoing effort by Friends Bookstore volunteers to collect all items left in donated books. We are incredibly grateful to our book donors as they allow us to offer gently used books to the public at affordable prices which in turn allows us to fund major library programs and projects. Please enjoy this collection of found items, and visit our bookstore, Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., closed Monday. (For more information, call us at 561-544-8596 and press 9.) 

To read about the origin of The Bookmark Project, click here: https://www.bocalibraryfriends.org/post/the-bookmark-project-by-stacy-reich

*Note: The handwritten card in the found items collage above is the third stanza of the poem “To Night” by Percy Bysshe Shelley.