Chelmsford's "One Book" Program
 

We invite you to nominate a title for our 2009 One Book community reading campaign. In September, the One Book committee will select three or four titles from all the nominations. We encourage all residents to vote for the 2009 title on Election Day, November 4th, by visiting our website www.chelmsfordlibrary.org. We will also provide ballots at selected sites in town.

2009 One Book Chelmsford Nomination Form

We are looking for books that provide material for great discussions. So while determining which title you want to nominate please keep these tips (from the Pasadena Public Library) in mind.

What makes a good book for discussion:

People often ask what qualities make a book a good candidate for book discussion. Probably the most important criteria are that the book be well written, have an interesting plot and three-dimensional characters. Good book discussion books present the author's view of an important truth and sometimes send a message to the reader. A good book discussion book often stays in the reader's mind long after the book is finished and the discussion is over. These books can be read more than once, and each time the reader learns something new.

During a book discussion, what you're really talking about is everything that the author hasn't said - all those white spaces on the printed page. For this reason, books that are plot driven (most mysteries, westerns, romances, and science fiction/fantasy) don't lend themselves to book discussions. In genre novels and some mainstream fiction (and often in nonfiction) the author spells out everything for the reader, so that there is little to say except, "Gee, I never knew that" or "Isn't that interesting." Librarians, booksellers, and friends can often supply you with suggestions of good books to discuss.

(Incidentally, this "everything that the author hasn't said" idea is why poetry makes such a rich topic for discussion.)

One Book 2008

Chelmsford's One Book 2008 selection was Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird

In October 2007, Harper Lee, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor, for her outstanding contribution to literature.

Some of the 2008 One Book programs included:

• A Taste of the South- kicks off "One Book" and Chelmsford's WinterFest
• Music! -a series of three free coffeehouses at the main library
• Lectures!
• Book Discussions!
• Films!

click here to print off a brochure of 2008 One Book programs

Chelmsford's 2008 'One Book' Program was funded by the Chelmsford Friends of the Library and the Chelmsford Rotary Club.

One Book 2007
Empire Falls by Richard Russo was Chelmsford's 2007 "One Book" selection. Our town has held discussions on this book, viewed the movie version, and held related programming throughout the year. We also had discussion groups for other Richard Russo novels, The culmintaing event was a visit by Richard Russo! Mr. Russo read from his new book, Bridge of Sighs, and answered questions about Empire Falls, himself, and his other novels. Mohawk, The Risk Pool, and Nobody's Fool, and Straight Man.

Chelmsford's 2007 One Book Program was Federally funded with LSTA funds through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.