'One Book Chelmsford' 2010

Chelmsford's 2010 "One Book" author is Dennis Lehane. Although our "One Book" campaign will feature his novel, "Shutter Island," our programming will also feature other novels by this popular author as well as crime and mystery novels in general. Check this page often for the latest news on our One Book programs.

Mark your calendar now for these upcoming ONE BOOK programs!

Friday, February 5, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. -tickets available now
WinterFest Social at the Chelmsford Public Library “Sweet Suspense and Lethal Libations”
This annual WinterFest social is also the kick-off for Chelmsford’s “One Book” community reading campaign. This year the Library will present a Dessert Social; local restaurants and bakeries will provide delicious desserts. Harrington’s Wines & Liquors will offer dessert wines for tastings. Beer and wine will also be available for purchase. Coffee, tea and soft drinks and light refreshments will be served. $10 per person donation. **Those purchasing advance tickets at the Library have the opportunity to check out early-bird copies of the 2010 One Book title, “Shutter Island” by Dennis Lehane.**

Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.
Join us for the library's film discussion group, Cinema Night. We'll be watching a popular film based on a Dennis Lehane novel. (Hint: The book's title is also the name of a river that flows through Arlington, Medford, Chelsea, and East Boston and empties into Boston Harbor). Cinema Night now begins at 6:30 p.m. with the film first and then a discussion.

Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 7 p.m.
Crime Novels -An Academic Perspective
Dr. Melissa Pennell, acting associate dean, Division of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, UMass Lowell, will discuss the genre of crime novels and how they reflect social ills. She will cover the tradition of the hard-boiled detective novel and the police procedural and how Lehane makes use of and adds innovations to both traditions.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 7 p.m.
"Writing a Killer Mystery" a writing workshop with Hallie Ephron
You know you’re reading a great mystery novel when you’re up at three in the morning, unable to put it down. When you finally get to sleep, the characters go romping around in your dreams. You get to the final page and smack yourself in the head because the solution is a complete surprise, and yet so obvious in retrospect. So how do you write a great mystery? This workshop demystifies the art and artifice, and gets down to the nuts and bolts of writing a killer mystery novel.
More information at http://www.chelmsfordlibrary.org/programs/programs/hallie_ephron.html

Fridays, April 2nd and April 16th at noon
The Novel Conversations Book Group at the MacKay Library will discuss "Shutter Island" by Dennis Lehane.

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 2:30 p.m.
Michael Mack brings his acclaimed one-man show "Hearing Voices" (Speaking in Tongues) to Chelmsford. For over a decade, Boston-based solo performer Michael Mack has been preaching a kind of gospel. The good news? His mother's recovery from schizophrenia, as told in his one-man play Hearing Voices (Speaking in Tongues). Click here for more information: http://www.chelmsfordlibrary.org/programs/programs/michael_mack.html

Sunday, June 13, 2010 at 1 p.m.
Mr. Lehane will be coming to speak at the Performing Arts Center at Chelmsford High School on Sunday, June 13, 2010 at 1 p.m. Read more about this well known author at www.dennislehanebooks.com.

2009 ONE BOOK Events

Chelmsford's One Book for 2009 is Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. The astonishing, uplifting story of a real-life Indiana Jones' campaign to build schools in the most dangerous, remote, and anti-American reaches of Asia. Inspired by a chance encounter with impoverished mountain villagers, the author is building schools to provide a balanced education in an isolated and dangerous region.

With the help of our many friends the library entered a "Three Cups of Tea" float in the town's 4th of July parade.

Climbing K2 and Other Adventures with Chuck Boyd of Vertical Realms
Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 7 p.m.
Chuck Boyd, owner and operator of Vertical Realms, LLC, will talk about his adventures climbing K2.
Take a look at the special website Chuck Boyd has created on his climb at www.k2tallmountain.com/
The photographs are amazing! Chuck has devoted most of his life to climbing and exploring the world's highest mountains and he loves sharing this with others. He has climbed peals throughout the world from the big walls of Yosemite and the great mountians of PEru, pakistana nd Tibet to exotic locales like Morocco's Todra Gorge and Thailand's dramatiuc sea cliffs. See his website for more information and dramatic photographs of his adventures. http://www.verticalrealms.com/

"The Many Facets of Islam"
Thursday, April 30, 2009 at 7 p.m.
"The Many Facets of Islam" by Subheen Razzaqui, speaker for the Harvard Outreach Center for Middle Eastern Studies and history teacher at Newton North High School, discusses the history and basic tenets of Islam, and similarities and differences among Muslim groups in the U.S.

Art Exhibit
May 4 - May 30, 2009 Exhibit of artwork inspired by Three Cups of Tea.
Call to Artists for works inspired by the book, "Three Cups of Tea"

Three Cups of Tea Resources:

Past programs:

Chelmsford Volunteer Fair Saturday, March 21, 2009; 10 a.m. - noon
Come to Chelmsford's Volunteer Fair learn about organizations that offer you a myriad of ways to give back to your community and make the world a better place. A rep from Barakat will be available to speak with you about their volunteer opportunities.

Book Discussions on Three Cups of Tea will take place on:
Monday, March 2nd at 7 p.m. and Wednesday, March 18th at 10 a.m., in the main library

Films and Discussions
The film, “Kite Runner” will be shown on Thursday, Feb 19, at 7 p.m. Discussion to follow.
The film, "View from a Grain of Sand," will be shown on Thursday, March 19, 2009 at 7 p.m. Discussion to follow.

Barakat Working in Central Asia
Thursday, March 12, 2009, at 7 p.m.
Damon Luloff, Executive Director of Barakat will talk about the work his organization is doing in Central Asia.

Greg Mortenson's Visit at the Chelmsford Performing Arts Center

Greg Mortenson, co-author of Three Cups of Tea (Chelmsford’s One Book), spoke at the Performing Arts Center at Chelmsford High School on Sunday, Feb 8th. Co-founder of the Central Asia Institute and Pennies for Peace, Greg Mortenson has established over 78 schools in rural and often volatile regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. His two new children’s books are: Three Cups of Tea (Puffin, chapter book) and Listen to the Wind (Dial; picture book). Mr. Mortenson's visit was part of his book tour for his two children's books (based on "Three Cups of Tea”) which came out in January. This program was funded by Penguin Publishers and the Chelmsford Friends of the Library

Chelmsford Telemedia filmed this event live to show on Chelmsford cable TV. If you missed the amazing talk by “Three Cups of Tea” co-author Greg Mortenson at Chelmsford’s Performing Arts Center this past Sunday you can still catch it. The program will also be re-broadcast on Chelmsford Cable TV Channel 8 at the following times:

Thurs Feb 12 at 10:00 PM on channel 8
Sat Feb 14 at 10:30 AM on channel 8
Thurs Feb 19 at 10:00 PM on channel 8
Sat Feb 21 at 10:30 AM on channel 8
You could check Chelmsford Telemedia’s website to confirm http://www.chelmsfordtv.org/

Thanks to Chelmsford Telemedia, the program will also be available on DVD at the Library. We will have several copies so you can check one out to view at home.

February 2009
Art Exhibit
Photojournalist Paula Lerner's exhibit, Afghan Stories: Behind the Headlines, will be at the Chelmsford Public Library through the end of February. This exhibit is an excellent complement to our "Three Cups of Tea" programming.

Click here to print off a brochure (pdf format)