Iron Rod Press Newsletter Vol. 2, No. 13

Sharing Literacy

March 31, 2026 - Did you know that March 31st has some pretty crazy celebrations?

It's "Dance Marathon Day" (the date Alma Cummings, a New York City dance instructor, began her world-record-setting 27-hour dance marathon in 1923)," "National Bunsen Burner Day" (to honor the birthday of its inventor, German chemist Robert Wilhelm Eberhard Von Bunsen), and "World Backup Awareness Day" (because no one wants to lose all their data!)

But for our purposes here today, it is also "International Hug a Medievalist Day." While you might not be "a scholar who studies the Middle Ages," AI suggests one way to celebrate this day is to "Read a book, watch a documentary, or explore medieval art online." So, let's talk about books and the power of reading.

In my neighborhood, and at over 200,000 locations world-wide, are "Little Libraries" where people can find, share, and enjoy books. They can be found in all 50 states, over 120 countries, and on all seven continents!

How can you participate?

1. Find the closest Free Little Library (FLL) near you. (See https://littlefreelibrary.org/.)
2. Take a picture of it and send it to me!
3. Have some books laying around your house that you're never going to read? Consider donating them to your local FLL.
4. Browse through the books others have left and see if one interests you. Even if it isn't about the Middle Ages.
5. Want to go all in? Set up your own FLL!

Although these community access libraries didn't begin on March 31, and you might not be a medievalist, they were started to provide free, 24-hour access to books. And I think that's something to celebrate everyday of the year.

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So until next time, always keep your eye on the One that loves you most. Ciao!

Janine

Click on the button below to a receive a free sample of my second book, "Stones to Shine in Darkness: Seeking the Light of Christ in Our Lives."

Ready to order "He Marked the Path," "Stones to Shine in Darkness," or my new book, "Embracing God's Timing"? Click on the Amazon link below.

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