• • • BY Michelle Saraceni ShefferA Decade <strong>of</strong><strong>One</strong> <strong>Book</strong>, <strong>One</strong> <strong>Philadelphia</strong>The young woman strode up to the Q&A microphone at the end <strong>of</strong> the aisleand asked Sherman Alexie to sing. She wanted to hear a Native Americansong, a song he perhaps learned as a child growing up on the SpokaneIndian Reservation on the other side <strong>of</strong> the country, nearly as far away from<strong>Philadelphia</strong> as one could be without leaving the mainland United States.Alexie—author <strong>of</strong> the 2011 <strong>One</strong> <strong>Book</strong>, <strong>One</strong> <strong>Philadelphia</strong> selections, WarDances and The Absolutely True Diary <strong>of</strong> a Part-Time Indian—playfullywarned <strong>of</strong> his lukewarm vocal talents before breaking into a traditionalstick game song. He made it just a few notes into the tune before theaudience <strong>of</strong> more than 400 <strong>Philadelphia</strong> high school students, who allhad read The Absolutely True Diary in class and received a free personalcopy thanks to <strong>One</strong> <strong>Book</strong> and the Field Family Teen Author Series,joined in with a double-dutch rhythm, marrying the urban and therural, the African American and the Native American, uniting culturesthrough the common language <strong>of</strong> music and the shared themes <strong>of</strong> asingle book.For building community across culture and class, gender andgeneration, through the act <strong>of</strong> reading is what lies at the heart <strong>of</strong> the<strong>Free</strong> <strong>Library</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Philadelphia</strong>’s acclaimed <strong>One</strong> <strong>Book</strong>, <strong>One</strong> <strong>Philadelphia</strong>program. Each year for the past decade, <strong>One</strong> <strong>Book</strong> has united tens<strong>of</strong> thousands <strong>of</strong> <strong>Philadelphia</strong>ns around a shared reading experiencecentered on a common work <strong>of</strong> thought-provoking literature. A jointproject <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Free</strong> <strong>Library</strong> and the Mayor’s Office, <strong>One</strong> <strong>Book</strong>, <strong>One</strong><strong>Philadelphia</strong> has grown from a modest <strong>Library</strong> program into a valuedmainstay <strong>of</strong> the city’s educational and cultural life.Regional media outlets are abuzz each fall with the highly anticipatedselection announcement. People pack the Parkway Central <strong>Library</strong> eachspring for the special Grand Finale event with the featured author. Andin just <strong>10</strong> <strong>years</strong>, the program has extended its reach deep into the region,growing its list <strong>of</strong> community partners from a small handful <strong>of</strong> 45 in2003 to more than 650 in 2011. Built upon the solid foundation laid bythe first <strong>One</strong> <strong>Book</strong> Chair, Stephanie Naid<strong>of</strong>f, none <strong>of</strong> these achievementswould have been possible without the passionate leadership <strong>of</strong> current,longtime <strong>One</strong> <strong>Book</strong> Chair, Marie Field.“In my view, <strong>One</strong> <strong>Book</strong>, <strong>One</strong> <strong>Philadelphia</strong> tapsinto the fundamental desire <strong>of</strong> people to belongto an interconnected, caring, positively engagedcommunity,” says Field. “I sometimes think <strong>of</strong><strong>One</strong> <strong>Book</strong> as a wonderful classroom in which weare all reading, learning, and growing together.”“Marie Field’s tireless work as the Chair <strong>of</strong> <strong>One</strong> <strong>Book</strong>, <strong>One</strong> <strong>Philadelphia</strong>has really made the program what it is today—a powerful source<strong>of</strong> unity in an age when so much seems to divide us,” says MayorMichael A. Nutter. “By joining together through reading and discussion,<strong>Philadelphia</strong> becomes a stronger, more vibrant city.”Throughout the course <strong>of</strong> eight inspired weeks each year, people fromacross the city meet up in neighborhood libraries, churches, and cafésto discuss the featured selection and enjoy a wide range <strong>of</strong> programsand events related to its themes. Nuanced and sensitive exchangesabout homelessness and mental illness arose from Steve Lopez’s TheSoloist; Dave Eggers’s What is the What and Carlos Eire’s Waiting forSnow in Havana shed light on the plight <strong>of</strong> refugees struggling foridentity in the land <strong>of</strong> the free. <strong>One</strong> <strong>Book</strong> participants have been treatedto Lenni Lenape dance performances and bountiful Persian feasts. Theyhave explored the atrocities <strong>of</strong> war, the indignities <strong>of</strong> slavery, and theever-present power <strong>of</strong> hope—all through a shared reading experience.TOP: Sherman Alexie,right, discusses hisfilm The Business <strong>of</strong>Fancydancing withTemple University’sGary Kramer at MooreCollege <strong>of</strong> Art andDesign as part <strong>of</strong> the2011 <strong>One</strong> <strong>Book</strong>, <strong>One</strong><strong>Philadelphia</strong> GrandFinale.BOTTOM: <strong>Free</strong> <strong>Library</strong>President and DirectorSiobhan A. Reardon,left, joins <strong>One</strong> <strong>Book</strong>Chair Marie Field andMayor Michael A. Nutterto announce the 2011 <strong>One</strong><strong>Book</strong>, <strong>One</strong> <strong>Philadelphia</strong>Featured Selections.by the numbersEACH YEAR, THE ONE BOOK, ONE PHILADELPHIAFEATURED SELECTION IS CHECKED OUT OF THELIBRARY AN AVERAGE OF 3,000 times.SINCE ITS INCEPTION, ONE BOOK HAS PROVIDEDFREE BOOKS TO MORE THAN 44,000 studentsIN PHILADELPHIA.IN 20<strong>10</strong>, AREA SALES OF THE COMPLETE PERSEPOLISoutpaced all other markets INTHE COUNTRY.More than 650 COMMUNITY PARTNERSPARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM EACH YEAR.79% <strong>of</strong> participating teachers HAVEUSED THE PROGRAM AS A TEACHING TOOL FORMORE THAN ONE YEAR.IN 2011, ONE BOOK HOSTED more than115 programs IN AND OUTSIDE OF LIBRARYLOCATIONS.{ 6 }{ 7 }