Held from September 23 – 29, Banned Books Week is an annual event that brings together the entire book community—readers, librarians, publishers, booksellers, educators, and journalists –in shared support of the freedom to read. Launched in 1982 in response to a tide of challenges to books in schools and libraries, Banned Books Week highlights the

A story across countries, generations, and time, Dream Country follows one single African-and-American family pursuing an elusive dream of freedom from Liberia to America and back. Told in five different sections, Shannon Gibney spins a riveting tale of the nightmarish spiral of death and exile connecting America and Africa, and of how one determined young

While the New York Public Library (NYPL) has a longstanding tradition of organizing branch discussion groups, it is relatively new to the Community Reads programming scene. Adult Programming Specialist Kelly Yim shares that the library runs three such programs the Gracie Book Club; One Book, One New York; and Readers Unite. She notes, “The most

Although they don’t host their NEA Big Read/JAXREADS program annually, the Jacksonville Public Library knows how to celebrate a common read. Last year, the chosen title was The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, and to immerse the community in the text, planned events included an Indian dancing program, henna for teens, crafting for adults, sampling Indian

One Book, One Town @ Fairfield Public Library, CT For its 10th year celebration, Fairfield Public Library’s One Book, One Town program selected not one, but two titles for participating patrons: Books for Living by William Schwalbe and A Child of Books by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston. These titles prompted readers young and old

How does a library manage to keep its Community Reads program relevant and exciting? Celebrating its 17th annual One Read program with David Grann’s Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders the the Birth of the FBI” in September, the Daniel Boone Regional Library (MO) just might have the secret to successful programming. One

  In 2019, the Watertown Free Library in Massachusetts will celebrate its 11th One Book program. Previous years’ selections include Refuge by Dina Nayeri (2018) and Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (2017). The Watertown Free Public Library’s One Book program is an “opportunity to bring people to books they might not have picked up on their

Bibliotherapy, or the therapeutic use of literature, can support students as they develop empathy and a deeper understanding of themselves and each other. Reading engaging and timely books in one classroom, one school, or one entire community can help educators in their mission to build a culture free from stigma and bias. JUST UNDER THE

On February 9, 2018, the Penguin Random House First-Year Reading Advisory Board convened for their annual summit the day before The First-Year Experience® Conference exhibit and sessions commenced. The Board members, representing a variety of public and private higher education institutions of varying sizes, came together to exchange ideas, and provide feedback and guidance. Our seven board members, along with staff

Popular Community Reads Pick Hits the Big Screen There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. Each and every morning, A wakes up in a different body and lives a different life. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached.

BROWN GIRL DREAMING is the critically acclaimed and award-winning book by Jacqueline Woodson. It’s a memoir about Jacqueline’s experiences on what is like growing up as a young African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the aftershocks of Jim Crow and her own growing awareness of the Civil Rights Movement. Having won the hearts

The 2017 Global Read Aloud kicked off this month and features Victoria J. Coe’s Fenway and Hattie for its early reader selection! The Global Read Aloud aims to connect teachers and students across the globe by reading aloud the same book during a set 6-week period.  The project started on October 2nd and runs until