Category: books, literature, arts

How Books Traveling to People Promotes Reading

Books are valuable and popular in an increasingly digital world. National Bookmobile Day and Operation Paperback promote reading accessibility. Bookmobiles serve communities lacking libraries, while Operation Paperback delivers books to military personnel. Both initiatives celebrate reading’s role in personal growth and community support.

Computers, tablets, and smartphones make it easy to read on the go, without carrying books or audio devices. But there is still a need and demand for physical books, magazines, and recorded sources of information and entertainment. Here are 2 ways that fulfill that need.

Celebrate National Bookmobile Day

Bookmobiles are mobile libraries that transport books from one local community to another. Bookmobiles make reading more accessible to people who don’t have access to physical public libraries.

National Bookmobile Day , March 22, 2026, celebrates this bookmobile service. The occasion celebrates the work and dedication of the many people involved, including library professionals, drivers, and donors.

National Bookmobile Day – April 22, 2026

The first public library I visited was a bookmobile.

Every week the bookmobile parked next to my elementary school. I  climbed the steps into the bus, and walked down the book- lined aisle. These books took me to faraway places, introduced me to famous people, and helped me dream of what I could do with my life.

I read about people who tried new things, made discoveries, travelled around the world and invented products that changed our lives.

From books  I discovered the mysteries of the human body and read about  people who studied to understand it, to uncover the causes of diseases, and work to cure them.

And I learned about people who used their talents, time and knowledge to make the world a better place. From the library, my dream of working in healthcare was born and nurtured.

Before I graduated from elementary school, a permanent library was built at the site where the bookmobile parked. I continued to make the library my second home, and learned to love the new building.

Go here to learn about the history of National Bookmobile Day

statue of boy reading a book
photo by Dr. Aletha, at a park in Bixby, Oklahoma

Recycle Books

Do you buy new or used books, magazines, audiobooks, or DVDs? What do you do with them after you read them?

Last year I began participating in a unique project to service members, veterans, and their families-Operation Paperback.

Operation Paperback

Operation Paperback began in 1999, sending its first shipments to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. It has since shipped over 3.7 million books to 30+ locations overseas.

With 19,000+ volunteers from all 50 states, these individual citizens, American families, and community groups form a network of shippers that send around 15,000 books per month.

They value the praise received at home, the words that mean the most are those that come directly from those served. They appreciate the efforts.

On behalf of my unit and those that received your books through Operation Paperback here at our deployed location, thank you. We greatly appreciate the time and effort you have put into providing us a measure of comfort while we are separated from our friends and family.

Having people out there supporting us during this past holiday season provided us all a welcome respite from normal day-to-day operations. Thank you for your support and dedication during this time. Warm Regards

By: Jessica E (Overseas) (from the website)

Operation Paperback is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in the State of Pennsylvania. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

There are two ways you can help Operation Paperback.

  • Donate money to help fund the purchase and shipment of high-demand genres and other special request books.
  • Send books, new or gently used, directly to troops, veterans, and their families. As a volunteer shipper, you will collect and ship your own books using the addresses they provide.

How will you help? Learn more and sign up here.

This post’s cover photo was created using AI.

Exploring the HEART of Health

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Dr. Aletha

Me, at the New York Public Library, on a long-ago trip

Sharing the Heart of Christmas

In this post I send holiday wishes while reflecting on Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” It summarizes the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miser who embraces the spirit of Christmas. The tale highlights themes of love, family, and redemption, and I wish the same to you.

Merry Christmas and welcome to Watercress Words, where we explore the HEART of Health.

My family and I attended a stage presentation of Charles Dickens’ story, A Christmas Carol, where this photo was taken

Dr. Aletha and Raymond Oglesby

The story was written by the English author Charles Dickens in the mid-19th century, but it continues to touch hearts almost 200 years later.

Spoiler alert-here’s the story, skip if you don’t want to know

Ebenezer Scrooge is a miserly man who despises Christmas. Scrooge started a business with Jacob Marley, who was very similar to Scrooge, but since Marley died Scrooge runs the business alone, treating one of his staff members, Bob Cratchit, very poorly.  

One night Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Jacob Marley, who warns Scrooge that if he does not become kinder he will have an awful fate after death. Marley tells Scrooge that in the coming nights he will be visited by three more ghosts. Initially Scrooge fails to take the warning seriously but as the ghostly visits become more terrifying, Scrooge begins to realise that he must change his ways.  

By the end of the story Scrooge has completely transformed, having learnt the importance of charity, friendship and generosity. Christmas is now his favourite time of the year and he does all he can to help Bob Cratchit and his family.  

Watch A Christmas Carol

There have been multiple screen versions of the story, including some animated adaptations. Do a search and find one, probably for free.

Read A Christmas Carol

And you can read the story, also for free. Here is a link to one version online at the Library of Congress.

Cover of the original publication

My wish for you and your family

Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is about loneliness, greed, selfishness, anger, fear, regret, and death.

But it also teaches us the value of family, friends, caring, giving, receiving, charity, and forgiveness. It is about second chances and starting over. Ultimately, in this timeless classic, love wins.

However you spend Christmas and whoever you spend it with, I wish you peace, joy, hope, and love.

Warmest wishes, Dr. Aletha

I will honor Christmas in my heart. Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens, English author, Lightstock.com, affiliate link

Exploring the HEART of Health

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