One book, One community

By: Staff report

Posted: 12/8/04

In order to spark campus-wide conversation, Booth Library will be sponsoring the first annual One Book, One University reading project.

With the help of the American Library Association's program One Book, One Community, Booth Library decided to bring the idea to the campus level.

With this program, Allen Lanham, dean of Library Services, said he hopes this program will create more diversity on campus, leaving readers to generate intellectual conversation.

The book chosen for spring semester discussion is "Nickel and Dimed, On (Not) Getting by in America," by Barbara Ehrenreich.

Lanham said Ehrenreich focuses on people getting by on minimum wage throughout the country. To get the full effect, Ehrenreich quits her job and cuts off all her extra funds to live on minimum wage.

"It's a quick, easy read," Lanham said. "We looked for a book appealing to all groups of people."

Lanham explained it should appeal to faculty and students because most people have at some point or another in their life experienced a minimum wage income.

Booth Library plans to schedule discussion sessions for the book next semester in January or February. Next fall the library plans on using "Frankenstein" as the One Book, One University selection.