New Rochelle will launch its own One City, One Book community reading project this year, with the official kick-off planned for June, 2007. Under the auspices of the New Rochelle Public Library, the NRPL Foundation and Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library, almost thirty community organizations have come together to organize the project. I’m excited to say that I am co-chair of this very worthwhile project and am working closely with Tom Geoffino, the Director of the Library and his staff.
The book chosen by the committee is Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters’ First 100 Years, which relates the remarkably full lives of Sadie and Bessie Delany, who experienced a segregated South, a migration to the North, the Harlem Renaissance and pioneering careers as African-American professional women.
All New Rochelle residents are encouraged to read the book and share in the experience through book discussions to be held in July and August, and through a variety of public programs during September and October, which will be based on the themes of the book. The New Rochelle Public Library will add 200 copies of the book to their collection (which is in paperback), and many of the participating organizations and institutions have made commitments to purchase books for their members as well. Additional copies will be available for purchase at a cost of $5.00 per book at the Kick Off Event. Watch for future announcements as we move forward.