One Book One Community Program Description and History

 

ONE BOOK ONE COMMUNITY

Great things happen when an entire community gets together for any reason. In the case of "One Book One Community," the great things revolve around what happens when an entire community is united by a common goal - the reading, discussing, analyzing and studying the same book during the same timeframe.

One Book One Community - a partnership among Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School, Bridgewater Public Library and the Senior Center - begins its third year with the reading of Night by Elie Wiesel. This thin, but powerful, volume is Dr. Wiesel's very personal story about the time he and his family were imprisoned in concentration camps during the holocaust.

As in the past, the One Book One Community program will include a film series, panel discussions and art exhibits. This year the program also offers two trips to the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. - one for adult community members and another for faculty and students from the college and high school.

The concept of One Book One Community began back in 2005 when Susan Brougham, director of Library Services at the high school, approached Ursula Garfield, chair of the College and Community Relations Council, about organizing a community read. The rest is history.

The first year, community members read Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich.  A lecture by Dr. Ehrenrich culminated that year's calendar of events.

Last year's book was My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult.  Following one discussion held at the Honors Center at BSC with high school and college students in attendance, comments about the book from high school students included: 

                    "I never realized that this book had such application to issues other than the obvious surface problem." 

              "I've learned how to look in other books for the underlying issues." 

             "I really learned how to probe and dissect a book." 

             "I learned how to present and defend my own opinions by having my facts straight and arguments logical, but
               I also learned to be open to change my mind, if persuaded by someone else's facts and logic."

            "I think reading, discussing and writing about a book as extensively as we have done with My Sister's Keeper has
              really helped me to think more logically, to clarify my thinking and to order my thinking in a different way than I
              have done before.  I definitely learned skills that I'll take to college."  

These introspective comments are what One Book One Community is all about. They show clearly what promoting literacy among young people and in the community can do to develop critical thinking, connect the community and open dialogue among a diverse group of people.

This year poses to be yet another dynamic year for One Book One Community. For more information, contact Susan McCombe, Office of College and Community Partnerships at Bridgewater State College, 508-531-1794 or e-mail smccombe@bridgew.edu and visit www.bridgew.edu/ccp

 

Last Modified: November 29, 2007