Get Caught in the Act ... of Reading

By Melissa Feldsher in Arts & Entertainment on May 8, 2009 10:00PM

While some of us at Chicagoist are more exhibitionist than a Kim Kardashian sex tape, we can all get behind the new public service campaign from non-profit social venture Open Books.

Beginning May 9th and continuing until the end of the month, Open Books is promoting national “Get Caught Reading Month” with a guerrilla photo contest. Be on the lookout, the non-profit is encouraging Chicagoans to sneak around town capturing candid shots of unsuspecting readers. Those with the best furtive photos will be declared contest winners the first week of June.

Not a devious photojournalist? There are still many ways to help promote literacy through Open Books’ community programs. During the 2008-2009 academic year over 1,500 students will participate in an Open Books program, so it’s always in need of reading buddies or donations to its collection of over 200,000 books. Upcoming events include a Grown-Up Sundae Social and a Book Club Swap jointly sponsored with our pals at Gapers Block.

Get Caught in the Act of Reading Photo Contest, May 9-31.

Grown-Up Sundae Social, May 12, 6-8 PM, Open Books, 213 W. Institute Place, Suite 305, RSVP to Anna at apiepmayer@open-books.org.

Book Club Swap, May 14, 6-9 PM, Black Rock Pub & Kitchen, 3614 N. Damen Ave.