Festival Dates: October 16-18, 2024
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Whether a kid lives in a rural area with no public transportation, whether caregivers or parents don’t have time to take kids to the library, whether there isn’t a bookstore for 50 miles, or the school library is vastly underfunded, there are so many reasons kids don’t have access to books. The VCBF works to put books in every child’s hands.
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Here at the VCBF, we know that if kids want to do something badly enough, they usually find a way to do it. So we try to make reading as fun as possible; we strive to make it IRRESISTIBLE.
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When kids don’t see themselves represented, they can feel invisible and unimportant. The VCBF believes that every child is important and should feel seen. Our diverse programs are key to having every child we serve feel valued, and to helping them continue on the road to lifelong readership.
Who are we?
Outreach
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Our book baskets can be found in partnering businesses throughout Farmville. Children can grab a book to read while they are in the location and if they fall in love with it, they can take it home with them to read again and again.
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The VCBF partners with the Richmond-based nonprofit Worthdays to provide a brand new book to foster children in the Richmond area on their birthdays.
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Our main book distributions occur during the holidays, but we spend the entire year donating books to organizations, social services agencies, and more. Each year the VCBF distributes more than 30,000 free books.
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Our mobile READcart is available for events in and around Farmville and brings reading to children and families wherever they are.
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From partnering with juvenile detention centers to curating film series, the VCBF knows that our partnerships make it possible to reach far more kids and families that we could reach on our own. Interested in being our partner? Be sure and contact us!
104 High Street
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The VCBF wants to offer our programming all year long, not just during our annual festival, and we want it be comprehensive. Planned programs include “Helping Children Grieve with Books,” and even book clubs for kids!
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All those books we give away need to live somewhere. Our office are a veritable rabbit warren of book storage, and we can always use help sorting and shelving!
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VCBF offices at 104 High Street offer us the chance to work with kids in small groups. Whether its a partnership with American Girl®, or a Dog Man graphic novel workshop, the VCBF is constantly trying to engage kids in reading and fun!
Unique VCBF Programming
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In partnership with Longwood University’s Speech, Hearing, and Learning Services, the VCBF produces programs tailored to children with sensory sensitivity and other special needs.
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The VCBF is dedicated to innovative and exciting programming, and our Hip Hop in Children’s Literature brings it all by combining reading, music, and video to create a singular experience for teens.
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By combining reading with robots, Minecraft, Google Expedition, and more, the VCBF is dedicated to creating dynamic programming that will inspire children to dream bigger.
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In partnership with the Robert Russa Moton Museum, the VCBF is proud to present annual Civil Rights in Children’s Literature programming in honor of Barbara Rose Johns, and her dedication to education for all.
Featured Product
Featured Product
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Let’s work together!
Please contact us to volunteer, sponsor, or talk about our programming.
Follow our journey.
Anti-Harassment and Anti-Censorship Policy
VCBF is dedicated to working towards a harassment-free experience for all members, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, origin, religion, or class. We do not tolerate harassment in any form.
VCBF’s definition of harassment may not necessarily align with legal definitions of harassment. Harassment includes: Verbal comments or displayed images that harmfully reinforce structures of oppression (related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion, geographic origin, or class); deliberate intimidation; stalking; body policing (including gender policing in all bathrooms); unwelcome photography or recording; sustained disruption of talks or other events; inappropriate physical contact; and unwelcome sexual attention.
Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. Exhibitors in the Writer’s Row, volunteers, and VCBF members are also subject to the anti-harassment policy.
Harassment does not include: respectful disagreement or critique in good faith. VCBF continues to welcome and appreciate the reading or performance of risky, transgressive material and the discussion of controversial ideas.