Friends of the Hood River County Library has suspended the Hood River County Reads program until the library can safely host large groups, which they hope is this coming spring. Program organizers say the kick-off for this year’s program was well attended on March 7 and the committee distributed almost all of the 565 free books to the community and schools before the library closed on March 11. The program committee is planning programming about the book The Highest Tide in 2021. Author Jim Lynch plans to visit to discuss his book for the program next year. Additional copies of the book will be ordered, but those who got them this year are asked to either pass them along or return to the library book drop.