September 2nd, 2008
One Community/One Book Programs
Below is a listing of recent major announcements. The Center for the Book maintains a much more complete database of “One Book” programs by state and author that goes back to 2002. The purpose of this list is not to be comprehensive, but to look at recent major projects and to identify some innovative approaches. Links take you to full details on each program.
For useful resources on program planning, link to the following:
Under “Programming Materials,” the One Book/One Community resource guide gives concrete information on planning a program, even providing budget worksheets. The CD includes digital art to use for creating posters and bookmarks.
The Library Marketing Department has created a resource guide, with tips by the guru of One Book programs, Nancy Pearl and list of suggested Random House titles. The addendum, includes recent titles, for those who are interested in reaching beyond the tried and true.
Offers helpful tools, like a sample time-line an recommended HarperCollins titles.
As “One Book” programs mature, it is important to keep them vital. Two articles present some provocative thoughts on this subject:
- Rocky Mountain News compares the One Book/One Denver experience to Seattle’s program, on goals, choice of titles, budget, programming and timing and comes up with suggestions to improve Denver’s program. A follow-up column, “One Book, So Many Opinions,” shows how difficult getting concensus can be.
- Emily Cook, of Milkweed Editions, tells Publishers Weekly that communities need to “appeal to 15–34-year-olds…What would happen if Chuck Klosterman went to Grand Rapids, Minnesota? Fifteen-year-olds would have a different concept of literature; 25-year-olds would be excited to read and engage, rather than feeling bored or excluded because their community is reading To Kill a Mockingbird, a book they read in high school and remember somewhat vividly.”
Recent “One Book” Announcements:
August, 2008
July, 2008
Chicago Picks ‘The Right Stuff’
April, 2008
Arlington is focusing on “the discussion of issues related to social justice and immigration…Taking our themes from the county’s initiative to encourage inclusion and sustainability within our community, we have selected books by two authors who offer profound, historic and deeply personal discussions of their immigration experiences.”
In addition to Arlington Reads, there is also a film series, called Arlington Screens and a series of video interviews with immigrant Arlington teens.
The books in the program are:
Brother I’m Dying by Edwidge Danticat
Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
The Long Goodbye may seem like a surprising choice for Chicago, since the book is associated with L.A., but Raymond Chandler was born in Chicago. The events include a virtual discussion by members of a group of Chicago crime authors, a film screening and several panel discussions.
January, 2008
Rocket Boys, Homer Hickam, Jr. (in pbk under its movie title, October Sky)
The program has a cool web site, featuring the “Top 5 Reasons to Participate.” Included is a program on how to build your own rocket, and a showing of the movie based on the book complete with and appearance by one of the original “Rocket Boys.” The book has been a popular choice for One Book programs.
Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
What Is the What, Dave Eggers
850 people attended the Jan. 8 kickoff, featuring Eggers
In partnership with their One Book program, Philadelphia is also presenting a two-week long film education program (Feb 21 through March 6, 2008) featuring Steven Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun. In addition to screenings of the film, 300 DVD copies are being distributed to schools and 200 circulated though the Free Library.
One Film co-directors Ruth Perlmutter and Carrie Rickey.
The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini
The Distant Land of My Father, Bo Caldwell
A debut novel by a local author. The book was also chosen for Pasadena Reads in 2007.
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
The Kansas Center for the Book received a grant to bring scholars to libraries to discuss the book.
Seattle Reads
The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears, a debut novel by Dinaw Mengestu (Riverhead Books, 2007)
This is the first One Book selection for the author.
