The 2009 One Book – One Lincoln program was wrapped up November 8th, 2009, with the final special program, but information about People of the Book and One Book – One Lincoln – 2009 is still available on this archive page.
The eighth One Book – One Lincoln community reading program began on August 31, 2009, with the announcement of Geraldine Brooks’ novel People of the Book, as the selected title for 2009. The scheduled events of One Book — One Lincoln — 2009 will take place throughout September, October and early November.
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks has been selected for the 2009 “One Book — One Lincoln” program.
About One Book – One Lincoln – 2009
One Book – One Lincoln is a community reading program sponsored by Lincoln City Libraries. The program encourages all adults in Lincoln and Lancaster County to read and discuss the same book at the same time. The goal of the program is to encourage reading and dialogue by creating a community wide reading and discussion experience.
The idea of city-wide reading programs started in Seattle in 1998 with the program “If All Seattle Read the Same Book” initiated by the Washington Center for the Book, located at the Seattle Public Library. The Library of Congress’ Center for the Book reports that “One Book” programs are being introduced across the U.S.A. and around the world.
This is Lincoln’s eighth year of the program. Since 2002, Lincolnites have been encouraged to read the same book each fall, and participate in special programming and book discussions. You can see an archive of the previous seven years worth of One Book – One Lincoln selections at our One Book main page.
Lincoln City Libraries Reference staff have compiled additional resources about People of the Book and Geraldine Brooks.
How can I participate?
- Get the Book. Check out a copy of People of the Book at any of the Lincoln City Libraries or purchase your own copy at your local bookstore. The title is available at Lincoln City Libraries in hardback and paperback, Large Type, Downloadable Audio, and Unabridged Book-on-CD formats. This title is also available as a Book Club in a Bag version, for book clubs wishing to check out multiple copies at once!
- Read! Join your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and fellow Lincolnites in reading the same book – together!
- Watch an informational program about this year’s One Book — One Lincoln which will begin airing on CityTV (Channel 5 local cable) in September on both Channel 5 and the On Demand channels.
- Attend our related programs.
- Look at our additional resources about People of the Book, and watch for the official Resource Guide, in September!
- Visit our new One Book — One Lincoln Facebook page (see the Fan box below!). Look for more online opportunities.
- Sign up to receive e-mail updates about One Book-related programs and events on our 2009 Finalists page.
- Discuss the Book in Person or Online! Attend a Community Discussion at your local library, bookstore, community and recreation center. A complete list of Community Discussion groups is available here. Contact the library to have a trained facilitator come and lead your own discussion group. Or visit our One Book One Lincoln Blog to respond to discussion topics posted in a discussion forum.
- Listen to Podcast recordings about People of the Book on our Podcasts page.
- Help us evaluate our program by filling out our feedback form [now disabled].
We can provide a discussion leader for your group
So you want to have a One Book – One Lincoln discussion group, but you don’t have a discussion leader? During September, October and November, Lincoln City Libraries staff will be available to organizations, businesses and clubs interested in hosting a discussion group. Visit our Finalists page, to request a book discussion leader via our online form, or for further information, call Lincoln City Libraries, 441-8562
What programs will there be?
Several special programs are being scheduled at various library branches and other locations during September, October or November with ties to the themes and events of People of the Book. You can see descriptions at our Programs and Events page.
How was People of the Book chosen?
A call for nominations from the community in January and February resulted in 185 nominations for 127 different titles being received. The general criteria for the title included:
- Fiction or Non-Fiction
- Of general interest to adults and young adults
- Sparks thoughtful discussion
- Easily available in paperback
- Address universal themes of life
- Readable
A selection committee with community-wide representation was formed to narrow the list down to five finalists, and ultimately to select the book for this year’s community reading program. Members of that committee included:
- Donna Marvin, Co-Chair
- Mary Jane Humphrey, Co-Chair
- Patty Beutler
- David Csontos
- Judi gaiashkibos
- Stephanie Geery-Zink
- Jeff Kirkpatrick
- Amanda Mandachit
- Jenny Nelson
- Julie Pokorny
- Bob Reeves
- Jodi Rethmeier
- Jerry Sellentin
- David Smith
- Sean Story
- Gloria Strope
- Elaine Westbrook
The title they selected is People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks.
“Inspired by a true story, People of the Book is a novel of sweeping historical grandeur and intimate emotional intensity by an acclaimed and beloved author
Called “a tour de force” by the San Francisco Chronicle, this ambitious, electrifying work traces the harrowing journey of the famed Sarajevo Haggadah, a beautifully illuminated Hebrew manuscript created in fifteenth-century Spain.
When it falls to Hanna Heath, an Australian rare-book expert, to conserve this priceless work, the series of tiny artifacts she discovers in its ancient binding — an insect wing fragment, wine stains, salt crystals, a white hair—only begin to unlock its deep mysteries and unexpectedly plunges Hanna into the intrigues of fine art forgers and ultra-nationalist fanatics.”
What other books were considered for 2009?
The other finalists in the top five for One Book – One Lincoln – 2009 were:
You can also Click Here for more detailed information about these, and the remainder of the top 12 finalists!
