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What is the One Book, One Community Our Region Reads! Campaign?
Community-wide reading, or "One Book," programs are designed to promote the value of reading by recommending a compelling book that links the community in a common conversation. One Book programs encourage dialogue about a particular book, but also foster lifelong learning and the development of a strong community identity. Launched in Seattle in 1998 with great success, the "One Book" concept has swept the nation, including such cities as Chicago, New York, Detroit, Philadelphia and Houston.
What is the background of the One Book Campaigns?
The One Book, One Community: Our Region Reads Campaign expanded to multi counties in 2004, thus offering a broader regional scope than one and two county efforts by Lancaster/York (2003) and Dauphin/Cumberland Counties (2002 & 2003) in delivering “One Book” community read campaigns. This year the campaign reflects collaboration among six counties: Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York Counties. A handfull of libraries in Berks County are involved, as well as the Harrisburg Area Community College libraries, the State Library, Shippensburg University Library and others. The partnership represents 70 public libraries and two bookmobiles in a combined community of nearly 2 million people. This project marks the tenth year that the library systems have collaborated in a regional community campaign. Campaign organizers are in the process of enlisting support from media, booksellers, colleges, universities, and community partners. Who decides the title of the chosen book?
Campaign organizers and Committee members (known as Book Advisors and Book Readers) suggest book titles, and a list of suggestions is taken from Reader evaluations. This becomes the list of considered books. All committee members read each of the titles on the list before casting a vote for the favored book.
Book Advisors from each county have volunteered to help make the selection. Book Advisors are allowed to suggest titles to the Book Readers, who in turn, after reading recommended books will narrow down the list and put it up for an email vote to the Book Advisors. Much discussion and consideration is given to the selection during the process. The book is selected based on broad criteria that include:
If you have an interest in selecting the next book (for 2013), please complete a Reader Survey and indicate your interest at the end of the survey! |
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What is "One Book"? |