Coffee drinkers at the Incline Village Starbucks on Tahoe Boulevard can enjoy a book or magazine with their latte thanks to the library’s read and share program.
“The whole idea is to get more reading materials out there,” said Amy Levy, Incline Village Library outreach, programming and youth services librarian. “There’s no obligation to return them. People can share the books with a friend or even put their own books in there.”
The library usually supplies the basket at Starbucks with large format paperback best sellers and current magazines.
The read and share basket is part of a larger collaboration between the library and Starbucks.
Currently the coffee store provides the library with coffee for it’s coffee bar.
“We wanted to do something nice for them,” Levy said.
Partnering with community organizations is part of Starbucks’ mission goals, said district manager Joey McNinch.
“We think it’s a great opportunity to be locally relevant,” McNinch said. “To go back to that coffee house atmosphere so people can sit back and read a book.”
The books are traded out each week when library staff visits to pick up supplies for the coffee bar.
“I think customers have enjoyed it,” McNinch said. “They grab a book and pass away their day.”