The James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., is recognizing Saturday, July 30, as Paperback Book Day 2022.

On July 30, 1935, Penguin Books published its first paperback books. And so, each year on this date, Paperback Book Day is celebrated.

One of the things that led to lighter books being developed was the commonality of the railway. The railway was indeed a faster form of travel across vast distances, but one could still easily spend a week or more in a carriage as it covered the great expanses of countryside.

While books were a fine way to pass the time, they were dearly expensive and quite large and heavy, making them both risky to carry and inconvenient to read while on the road. So, it was that the first paperback books were aimed at railway passengers.

Since that time paperback books have become increasingly popular for both their reduced price, as well as their portability. While modern advances have produced books even lighter yet in the form of digital readers and documents one can pull up on their phone, there’s still just nothing quite as satisfying as holding a book in your arms and curling yourself around it on a quiet evening. Paperback Book Day honors and exalts this practice of comfort and leisurely days.

The best way to celebrate Paperback Book Day is to curl up with your favorite paperback book, and the library is here to help you find your next great read. Check out our list of staff picks at jvbrown.edu/staff-picks or fill out an online book recommendation form to have a book list created for you.

Children’s librarian Nina White also is available to recommend books for younger readers and picture books for families. Call 570-326-0536 for more information.

The James V. Brown Library is open for browsing and holds pick up from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. To place a hold, visit www.jvbrown.edu or call 570-326-0536 during the library’s operating hours. The library also is open for public computer usage and for services such as printing, faxing, copying and scanning. Walk-in passport services are available.

The James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., Williamsport, Pa., is the place to go to learn, connect and grow. Founded in June 1907, the library champions the love of reading, opens new doors to lifelong learning, provides a haven to those who seek and ensures the preservation of public library services for future generations. The library has more than 225,000 visitors in a year and circulates a half-million items annually. A member of the Lycoming County Library System, the James V. Brown Library participates in PA Forward, a statewide initiative to promote literacies in our communities to power a better future for everyone.