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More than dough rising at Panera Bread Co. of Iowa

November 20, 2004

More than dough is Rising at Panera Bread Co. of Iowa—there’s also a rising interest in BookCrossing. Panera Bread locations in Iowa believe in giving back to the community; they sponsor many good causes including Breast Cancer Awareness and the Day-End Dough-Nations where they donate any bakery products remaining at the end of the day to local food pantries and shelters, and now they are promoting literacy by sponsoring OBCZs (Official BookCrossing Zones).

After releasing 600 books in 6 pilot stores, customers took notice and requested that more of their stores participate. Now, all 13 of their stores have OBCZs. Customers are welcome to come in to relax in a comfy leather chair with an expresso drink and a good book. Children are given bagel bookmarks to encourage reading. With each book read, the child colors in a bagel. When the bookmark is full, they can return it to Panera Bread for a free bagel.

BookCrossers are excited about having OBCZs in a favorite place to meet. BookCrosser LoveTeaAndBooks printed out the Panera Bread’s bookshelf and took it to a New York Meetup at a Panera Bread Co. There happened to be a Panera corporate officer in training who also loved the idea, and will be opening 20 more locations in NY. What a delicious way to promote literacy!

Read the whole Panera discussion in our Announcements forum, here.

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