In 1998, a community reading experiment began in Seattle, Washington when the following question was asked: ""What would happen if everyone in the community read the same book?" Participants discovered that community bonds were forged when people came together to discuss issues addressed by interesting and exciting narratives. Since then, the spirit of their project has inspired other communities across the nation to plan their own One Book, One Community programs.
The Stark County area first joined the initiative in 2005 and has planned community wide events for selected titles every year since.
This year, Stark County participants are reading a memoir of growing up in a dysfunctional - yet uniquely colorful - family. The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls, is a story of survival despite a life of poverty and parental detachment. Walls' father, who has aspirations that never materialize, is an alcoholic. Her mother, an artist and sometimes school teacher, prefers to spend her time painting instead of minding her responsibilities.
Published in 2005, The Glass castle was on the New York Times best-seller list for more than a year and won several literary awards. It is a book that will astonish you, and at times may anger you, but in the end it will warm your heart.
The Mayor's Literacy Commission has planned an extensive schedule of events that touch on a variety of social issues raised by The Glass Castle. A calendar of these events is available HERE.
Be sure to join the library's Book Discussion Group when they take on this book at their November meeting!
One Book, One Community 2009
2009 National Book Festival
The 9th annual National Book Festival is underway on the National Mall today. From 10 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. more than 70 authors and thousands of visitors will gather to celebrate the written word in pavilions covering a wide range of reading interests. Those of us who aren't in D.C. today can participate in some of the fun via television and the Internet:
- Book TV will be broadcasting festival events live today. In Massillon, this on cable channel 77. View a list of scheduled events HERE. And follow Book TV's Twitter updates HERE.
- The Library of Congress, sponsor and organizer of the festival, hosts the National Book Festival Website, including profiles of participating authors (past and present) and an archive of Festival Webcasts.
If you discover any new authors or books that intrigue you today, be sure to visit the online catalog to search for and place holds on the things you want to read!
Library to Host First-Ever Virtual Visit
On Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. the Massillon Public Library invites readers to attend its first-ever Virtual Author Visit with New York Times best-selling author, Adriana Trigiani. Ms. Trigiani, author of Lucia, Lucia, The Queen of the Big Time, and the beloved Big Stone Gap series, will speak directly with our patrons, via webcam, in the library auditorium.
Being able to talk face-to-face with popular authors, ask specific questions and hear first-hand their inspiration for writing is the dream of every book lover. However, because best-selling authors have pressing writing schedules and many long distance obligations, they are not able to share with their readers, in person, as they would like. Virtual author visits have changed all that! Now, authors are able to speak directly with their fans without having to spend hours on the road or make grueling travel arrangements.
In celebration of Ms. Trigiani’s heritage, Italian refreshments for this event will be provided by The Little Italian Kitchen. This program is free and open to the public, reservations are required and may be done at the Adult Circulation Desk.
The Massillon Public Library is located at 208 Lincoln Way East. The Second Street ground-level entrance is handicapped accessible. For more information, contact the library 330.832.9831 ext. 311.
Summer Reading List
| Summer Reading Club is off to a great start! Over 400 children are busy tracking their reading progress and participating in the many programs and activities being presented by the Children's Department. This year's Summer Reading Club artist, David Catrow, is the illustrator of a number of fantastic books for children, many of which are available on our shelves. Take a look at a selection of these titles in the list below: |
I Ain't Gonna Paint No More!
by Karen Beaumont
Published 2005 by Harcourt Children's Books
Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780152024888
Doggone Dogs!
by Karen Beaumont
Published 2008 by Dial Books
Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780803731578
I Like Myself!
by Karen Beaumont
Published 2004 by Harcourt Children's Books
Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780152020132
The Emperor's Old Clothes
by Kathryn Lasky
Published 1999 by Harcourt Children's Books
Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780152003845
On Top of the Potty: And Other Get-Up-And-Go Songs
by Alan Katz
Published 2008 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780689862151
We the Kids
by David Catrow
Published 2002 by Dial Books
Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780803725539
You can place holds on these and other books any time through our online catalog.
Be Creative @ Your Library!
Summer Reading Club begins on June 8. Stop in the Children's Department any time on Monday to sign up for Summer Reading Club, make a craft, and watch one of the many performers who are scheduled to entertain from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Summer Reading Club continues through July 18th and you can register at any time during the six weeks between the kick-off on June 8th and the wrap-up talent show event in July. Reading club members track time spent reading or being read to in their reading records and may attend any or all of the events the library has planned.
For more information, contact the Children's Department at 330.832.5037.
Angels & Demons at the Library
The film version of Dan Brown's Angels & Demons hits theaters today. Before you check out the movie, read the book!
| Books In A Box Your library has multiple copies of select titles available for use in classrooms or by book discussion groups. To borrow the Angels & Demons Books In a Box set, or one of the other sets in our collection, contact the Children's Department at 330.832.5037. |
Other Titles by Dan Brown:
Related Links:
The Big Read 2009
The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts and is designed to bring literature and reading back to the center of American culture.
In Massillon, participating libraries, museums and universities have partnered to provide a variety of book discussion sessions, programs and other events organized around Wharton's classic novel, The Age of Innocence. Scheduled events will take place throughout the month of March and everyone is invited to attend as many of the events as they wish.
