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One Book, One Bedford

Annual Community-wide Reading Event

A Bit of Background

What is the 'One Book, One Bedford' program and how did it start?
The idea for a community-wide reading program began in 1998 at the Seattle Public Library in answer to a simple question: "what if everyone read the same book?" But it was Chicago Public Library that brought the idea to nationwide attention, when Chicago started a its own city-wide reading program with To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee in 2001. After that, 'One Book' programs were being started across the country.

 

In 2004, Bedford held its first 'One Book, One Bedford' program, selecting Kent Haruf's Plainsong as part of an "On the Same Page" mini-grant awarded by the state that year. In 2005, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald was chosen, followed by 1776 by David McCullough in 2006.  In 2007, Digging to America by Anne Tyler was picked, and in 2008 Here If You Need Me: A True Story by Kate Braestrup was selected. The Library named The Orchard: A Memoir by Adele Crockett Robertson for the 2009 event.

 

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout has been selected for this year's 'One Book, One Bedford', with discussions and events happening in April.