One Book is back

It's almost that time of year again when Nova Scotians will be invited to "read the same book, share the same story".  Community reading programs are nothing new and started in Seattle back in 1998.  Other communities quickly caught on and CBC's Canada Reads is a good example of a nation-wide community reading program.

Community reading events promote recreational reading among adults.  Often the titles chosen are designed to inspire discussion and debate. One Book Nova Scotia also aims to promote Canadian literature.

Last year was the first time Nova Scotia held a province wide reading event for adults.  It proved popular with over 1,100 people borrowing the book from libraries during the seven-week run of the program.  Forty-two events were held around the province, including author readings and book club meetings.  Leo McKay Jr.’s Twenty-Six, a fictionalized account of the 1992 Westray Mine disaster, was the inagural One Book Nova Scotia selection. 

One Book Nova Scotia is a project of Libraries Nova Scotia and will be promoted throughout public libraries, community college and university libraries, and bookstores this fall.  The chosen book will be unveiled on Tuesday, September 10^th at 10:00 a.m. at a provincial launch at the Waterfront Campus of NSCC in Dartmouth.  The public is welcome.

Which book will it be this year?  Stay tuned to find out or check out the 1bns.ca website for more information.

Frances Newman, Regional Librarian