Barnes & Noble Highlights Literacy and Family Fun During National "Turnoff Week" April 20th - 26th

Barnes & Noble, Inc. will celebrate national "Turnoff Week," April 20th through April 26th, with activities offering alternatives for people to television, the Internet, electronic games and other screen related activities and spend real time with family and friends.

Turnoff Week is a primary program of the Center for SCREEN-TIME Awareness, an international nonprofit organization, providing tools for people to live healthier lives in functional families and vibrant communities by taking control of the electronic media in their lives and not allowing it to control them. Turnoff Week is supported by national organizations including the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, National Education Association, and President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Since 1994, more than 50 million people have participated in Turnoff Week.

"As local community centers, Barnes & Noble stores are centered on literacy and togetherness," said Sarah DiFrancesco, director of community relations for Barnes & Noble, Inc. "We believe Turnoff Week is an important way to highlight storytelling, reading and family - the cornerstones of our business."

Barnes & Noble is joining the Center for SCREEN-TIME Awareness, the promoters of Turnoff Week, and ensuring that everyone has a place to go and something to do that is just right for the entire family. Among the events being offered at many Barnes & Noble stores across the country are family Storytimes, Family Fun nights, game nights, book clubs, bookfair fundraisers, crafts, scavenger hunts, and poetry readings.

It is expected that 20 million people across the USA will turnoff the recreational use of screens for one week. They will read, play games, spend time with family and friends, venture outdoors and spend time with real people in real time. "Barnes & Noble is the new village green" said Robert Kesten, executive director of Center for SCREEN-TIME Awareness. "These stores offer people a public living room, where books, newspapers, music and families come together, what could be better than that?"

To find a Turnoff Week event at a store near you please visit the Barnes & Noble store locator at http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/. For more information on Turnoff Week, visit http://www.screentime.org/.