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Beginning in February 2008, the Friends of the North Plains Public Library have sponsored an annual One Book One Community Program which features a month long series of events centered around a chosen book. Hundreds of books are distributed free of charge to community members who wish to participate in the program.
Community Reading projects benefit a library in several ways, some quantifiable, others not. The most important non-quantifiable benefit is this: Community Reading projects position the library as a major player in the cultural life of a community. The library is no longer simply a place to come to use the computers, or to find information, or the most recent best-seller (all vital aspects of the library’s mission in themselves, of course); rather, the library becomes a destination for people who are interested in discussing books, a venue for author visits and for other cultural and humanities programs. One Book, One Community projects are an excellent way to start building a community of readers that finds its home base in the library.
Do you like our One Book One Community Program?
For our 5th annual One Book One Community program we have chosen the book “Cutting for Stone” by Abraham Verghese. The book takes place primarily in Ethiopia at a medical clinic. Marion and Shiva Stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful Indian nun and a brash British surgeon at a mission hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Orphaned by their mother’s death in childbirth and their father’s disappearance, bound together by a preternatural connection and a shared fascination with medicine, the twins come of age as Ethiopia hovers on the brink of revolution. Yet it will be love, not politics — their passion for the same woman — that will tear them apart and force Marion, fresh out of medical school, to flee his homeland. He makes his way to America, finding refuge in his work as an intern at an underfunded, overcrowded New York City hospital. When the past catches up to him — nearly destroying him — Marion must entrust his life to the two men he thought he trusted least in the world: the surgeon father who abandoned him and the brother who betrayed him.
Our program is underway now. A series of events are scheduled for February featuring several lectures, ethinic foods, an art exhibit, a music and dance performance, a children’s program, an Ethiopian coffee “ceremony”, a travel program, a movie, and two book discussions all related to the book. Dates and times are listed below:
- Feb. 4th (Saturday) – 6:30 pm – at the North Plains Public Library
Kick Off Event-Party featuring the music of Derrell Walker, a taste of Ethiopian cuisine, and the distribution of 100 copies of the book, Cutting for Stone. - Feb. 8th (Wednesday) – 7 pm – at the North Plains Public Library
Lecturers Steve Kountz and Bob Alexander have been going to Ethiopia regularly for four years for an economic development project and will discuss the Ethiopia of today. - Feb. 10th (Friday) – 7 pm – at the North Plains Public Library
Movie showing of “My Own Country”, a 2000 R rated movie made from the book by Abraham Verghese, starring Marisa Tomei, Naveen Andrews, Glenne Headly and Hal Holbrook - Feb. 11th (Saturday) – 1 pm – at the Jessie Mays Community Center
A children’s program, geared towards k-6th grade, featuring a performance by the Carden Choir, African stories and the Ethiopian game of Mancala. Simultaneously, an Ethiopian coffee ceremony with Sonya Damtew for the adults will be enjoyed. - February 13th (Monday) – 7 pm – at the North Plains Public Library
A lecture by guest speaker, Daniel Amini, on the Art in Ethiopia. - Feb. 16th (Thursday)- 7 pm – at St. Edward Church
A lecture by Rev. Steve Newton who has spent many years working in Eastern Africa. As president of the Institute for Central and East African Rehabilitation, he helped develop programs for addiction in Kenya, Uganda and Zambia. - Feb. 18th (Saturday) – 7 pm – at the North Plains Public Library
A lecture and presentation by Dr. Kaitlin Masarie on women’s health in Ethiopia today - Feb. 22nd (Wednesday) – 7 pm at the North Plains Public Library
A travel presentation given by Teresa Sullivan of the Mango Safari Travel Co. - Feb. 25th (Saturday) – 7 pm – at the Jessie Mays Community Center
An African percussion and dance performance by Sébé Kan (“Serious Sound”), featuring Derrell Sekou Soumah Walker - Feb. 29th (Wednesday) – 10 am & 7 pm - at the North Plains Public Library
Two book discussions of the novel, Cutting for Stone, one in the morning led by Mike Spooner and one in the evening led by Mark Leavitt
Refreshments will be served at all events.
We will also be participating in the “Ethiopian Shoe Project” by collecting and donating clean, gently used running shoes during the month of February at the library.
This year the Friends of the North Plains Public Library are proud to have won a grant from the Cultural Coalition of Washington County to help put on the many events. As always, copies of the book will be distributed to community participants, and all events will be free to the public.
One Book One Community – 2011
In 2011, the chosen book for our 4th annual One Book One Community reading program was “The Whistling Season” by Ivan Doig. Selected to commemorate the centennial of the city of North Plains, the book is set in 1911, and although the setting is in rural Montana, life may not be that much different than in Washington County during the same time period.
The Friends of the North Plains Public Library arranged for speakers and cultural entertainment throughout the month of February 2011. All “One Book, One Community” events were free.
Events included:
One Book One Community – 2010
In 2010, the book, “Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations,” by Greg Mortenson was the chosen book. To enhance the reading and understanding of Mortenson’s work, Friends of the North Plains Library arranged for speakers and cultural entertainment throughout the month. All “One Book, One Community” events are free.
Events included:
One Book One Community – 2009
In 2009, the book “Stubborn Twig” by Lauren Kessler was chosen. A wide variety of events were sponsored by the Friends of the North Plains Public Library to enhance the understanding of the Japanese internment program during World War II as described in the book.
Events Included:
One Book One Community – 2008
In 2008, the book “Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafon was chosen as Community Reads book.
Events included:
