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Support Your Local Library
One Book for the Whole Region to Read! by Karen Hostetter
Take a break, have a cup of tea, and enjoy reading about some upcoming and newsworthy library events below.
I am so happy now that we have
announced the selection of the 2010
One Book title. As the book launch
news conference drew near in late
August, it became harder for me to
keep mum about the title chosen.
Since January, I have been working on
the regional steering committee that
plans and promotes the project.
Now I can talk about the book and
share how I came to enjoy The Book
Thief by Markus Zusak. Since I am
in my car a lot as I now work at three
library locations, I first checked out
the audio book. The reader spoke with
a German accent and I immediately
felt like I was transported to Germany
in the early days of World War II. But it
really isn’t a war story – it’s more of a
family story - about good people who
are caught in a very bad situation.
Nazi Germany was not full of Nazi
sympathizers and I never realized
that until I read this fictional tale
that represents the story of brave
people who saw their neighbors lose
everything -- their jobs, their homes,
and then their very existence. Some
had friends, neighbors or relatives
that were brave enough to help those
in trouble.
Filbert the Flamingo from Isaac’s Restaurant and Deli and Anne Shannon, WGAL news personality, reveal the
2010 One Book, One Community title to attendees at Fredricksen Library in Camp Hill, Cumberland County.
Library
Chat
on September 9, all 20 Isaac’s locations
will offer a community night fundraiser
to support One Book, One Community.
Additionally, Isaac’s provides a buyone-
get- one-free coupon that can be
used anytime throughout the reading
campaign. Why not plan a meal out and
meet at your local Isaac’s? Special thanks
to Johnny Roberts for coordinating the
One Book presence in each of the Isaac’s
locations and for bringing our new
friend, Filbert, our favorite flamingo, to
the Book Launch.
Linda Shorey should be a librarian
in another lifetime. She works for K &
L Gates, a Harrisburg legal firm, in the
daytime but as a valued member of the
selection committee, she reads every
book that is considered for inclusion in
the One Book initiative. We are grateful
for Linda’s dedication and thank K & L
Gates for supporting both Linda and
the One Book effort.
Glatfelter, a local paper company,
makes paper for books. When the
company first became a sponsor in
2005, I hoped that the book we chose
was printed on Glatfelter paper. It
was not, but the company’s mission
included serving adults, as well as
their employees, in a community-wide
literacy project. Glatfelter provides 100
outreach copies of the book that are
distributed to community partners in
each of our counties.
M. Clare Zales, Deputy Secretary, Pennsylvania
Department of Education, Office of Commonwealth
Libraries, announced that library staff at the State
Library and the Bureau of Library Development
will read and discuss The Book Thief along with
libraries in Central Pennsylvania. Ms. Zales added
that Commonwealth Libraries plans to continue
the staff reading initiative annually.
The book is narrated by Death, a
strange concept for me to grasp until I
found that Death, as presented by the
author, was not morbid but actually very
sympathetic and cared deeply for the
souls that he gathered. The author weaves
this character throughout the book as if
he were the narrator of a documentary.
When I finished listening to the audio
book, I shared some of my thoughts with
another librarian and she said, “…but if
you only listen to the book, you can’t
see the pictures”. So next I checked out
the book and I agree that it is important
to see the hand-drawn pictures that
were created by Max, the Jew hidden in
the basement by the Huberman family.
That’s enough. I don’t want to tell you
anymore until you have read the book.
There will be plenty of time for book
talks and other related programs later.
Sponsors Make it All Possible
I need to emphasize the importance
of our dedicated sponsors to this
18 ShowcaseNow! Volume 7 Issue 8
ShowcaseNow! execs, Kelly Summerford, Chief Operations Manager, and Georg Sheets, publisher, enjoy a
conversation with Anne Shannon at the book announcement.
regional project. Many have supported
One Book, One Community since its
inception in 2004. WGAL TV 8 and its
on-air personality, Anne Shannon, who
graciously serves as our spokesperson,
create a public service announcement
each year. The PSA runs throughout
September and October. John Baldwin,
Creative Services Director, is always
on hand to make sure that everything
runs smoothly during the book
announcement each year. The WGAL
web site also links to the One Book
website at OBOC.org.
Wade Fowler is chairman of the
Robert H. & Beverly Utley Fowler
Foundation. Wade’s mother, Beverly,
has been a contributing member of
the One Book selection committee
for many years. It was heartwarming
to read Wade’s comments that
accompanied the Foundation’s check
this year. In part, it said, “the premise
of the program, engaging readers in
Central Pennsylvania in thoughtful
reflection on literature, continues to
garner our admiration and support.”
It makes all the hard work worthwhile
to know that a contributor believes in
what you are trying to accomplish.
Joe Murphy from Harrisburg News
Company is a man with a vast knowledge
of the book industry. It’s his business and
he facilitates our libraries to acquire the
books and receive a co-op back from the
publisher that helps us to continue One
Book projects. Additionally, Joe serves
on both the selection committee and
the regional steering committee when
time allows. Each year, he distributes
our chosen title to many diverse outlets,
including GIANT Food Stores, Weis
Markets, and Wegman’s. You may also
pick up a copy at one of several airport
book stores. And they all come with our
One Book sticker on the front. How cool
is that? We are almost everywhere.
Encouragement is
Everywhere
Joe also encouraged us by relating
a conversation he had with GIANT
Food Stores as he asked the company
to come on board as a major sponsor
in 2009. We are grateful for GIANT’s
continued commitment to our adult
reading campaign. Books are available
in 50 GIANT locations throughout
Central Pennsylvania.
Isaac’s Restaurant and Deli is the
sweetest sponsor that we have. Isaac’s
provides refreshments at the book
announcement news conference –
including delicious sliders, side salads,
pickles, and Utz’s natural chips… and
then to top it off they offer their delicious
brownies and cookies. If you missed
the brownies at the kick-off, you have
another opportunity to taste one by
visiting an area Isaac’s location. In fact,
ShowcaseNow! – a Loyal
Supporter
ShowcaseNow! magazine is a firm
supporter of One Book and our
libraries in many ways. The four page
insert included in this issue is our
program guide. It is the official print
piece where we share information
about the book and the author, about
the One Book initiative, and where to
find related programs throughout our
nine counties. So take the insert with
you, or the entire issue, and come on
out and enjoy the programming.
We offer special thanks to publisher
Georg Sheets for including library
stories in ShowcaseNow! all year long.
Georg wears many hats; he’s a full-time
employee of Martin Library in charge
of the Planned Giving effort and he is a
writer with a natural love of libraries in
all shapes and sizes. Kelly Summerford,
the Chief Operating Manager for
ShowcaseNow! also wears many hats:
city councilman, consultant with the
Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and a
member of the Pennsylvania Past Players,
among them. They are responsible for
giving me this venue to write about
library activities in small, rural libraries
as well as the more visible, busy locations.
We all turn to ShowcaseNow! to know
what’s happening and to make choices
of what to see and do – when we’re not
working on the One Book program or
some other library project!
Finally, we are grateful to our library
leaders for the opportunity to devote
the staff time necessary to create and
plan the One Book, One Community
Program. Thanks to one and all! See
you soon at a book talk!