Community Reading / "One Book..." Programs Promote Reading, Discussion

I’m psyched. Boulder appears to be jumping on the One Book... bandwagon started a few years back in Seattle. The public library is behind the One Book, One Boulder initiative which will invite Boulder residents to read the same book simultaneously.

The Washington Center for the Book kicked this off in Seattle in 1998 with Seattle Reads, and it has continued since then successfully. This year, Seattle residents have branched out from a mere one book and are reading the works of Isabelle Allende As part of this, Ms. Allende visited the city for reading discussions four days last month.

In addition to promoting reading, community reading programs foster impromptu book discussion among strangers reading the same book. For a list of states and countries that have instituted community reading programs, visit The Center for the Book at the Library of Congress’ website.