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What tools would help libraries take advantage of the One Book One State opportunity?
We know that library involvement is the key to success of our Nebraska statewide reading efforts. We also know that the staff and volunteers of Nebraska public libraries are very busy with a variety of library services and reading promotion activities. What resources and tools help libraries bring communities together through literature by hosting reading and discussion activities?
Is your library celebrating One Book One Nebraska 2007 by reading Crazy Horse: Strange Man of the Oglalas, by Nebraska author Marie Sandoz? Please comment below about resources that helped with organizing book discussion sessions and other events.
Are you interested in celebrating One Book One Nebraska 2008 by reading Restoring the Burnt Child, by Nebraska’s own State Poet William Kloefkorn? Please comment below with suggestions and ideas for tool that might help to assist with reading/discussion activities, as well as a suggested timeframe for distribution.
Thanks, Mary Jo Ryan
State Poet William Kloefkorn shares his thoughts on One Book One Nebraska 2008:
“Our stories often reveal the variety of experiences that collectively we call our ‘education.’ It is a good thing, seems to me, for us to write about these experiences, and to share them with others. By doing this we can form and strengthen communities, from the immediate family to the extended one, from a child listening to a nursery rhyme, to a book club discussing the Canterbury Tales. It is a means of defining ourselves, and of learning to know each other in ways we never dreamed of. Mark Twain wrote, perhaps with his tongue only slightly touching its storyteller’s cheek, ‘Never let your schooling interfere with your education.’ But I would add this: ‘Never let your schooling end when your schooling ends.’ I hope that my second memoir, Restoring the Burnt Child, connects with a variety of readers, whoever they are, wherever they live, however down-home or embellished their education.”
Susan Maher, University of Nebraska at Omaha, recalls her memories of One Book One State 2005:“When members of the One Book/One State steering committee met in Kearney during the 2004 Nebraska Book Festival, we had no idea whether our vision for a statewide reading of Willa Cather’s My Ántonia would gain interest or not. Very few states in the nation had attempted a statewide read, putting Nebraska in the avant-garde of this kind of wide-reaching effort…Communities across the state of Nebraska embraced this, scheduling all kinds of events… The people of Nebraska made One Book/One State an enormous success.”
Hastings Public Library and its patrons have participated in each of the “One Book/One State” reading discussions – we enjoyed “My Antonia” and Willa Cather and had some lovely activities and discussion; “One False Move” was livelier and a bit more controversial, but attracted a different group of readers to the “One Book” movement and Alex Kava was a wonderful presenter; “Crazy Horse” proved more of a challenge for our readers and the saving grace was the reading guide put together by the Sandoz Center and the set of books I could borrow from my library system.
“Crazy Horse” was not approachable to many of my readers because there was no large print or audio format available. The same will be true of “Restoring the Burnt Child.”
If we are going to maintain participation by a wide range of our citizens, we need to be able to accommodate readers who need large print and those who prefer audio books. Statewide programming, like was available with the Kava title, is also a big help for public librarians who have very little time and, often, few resources for planning author visits or speakers. If a state tour by Mr. Kloefkorn is being planned, that should be the driving force behind timing everything else.
(Responding to Pam Bohmfalk) Is it at all possible for someone in a community to create an audio recording of the selected book, then have it available for checkout? Or would this constitute coyright infringement?
When on earth are you going to put out the study materials to help us prepare for 2008 – The Burnt Child. We’ve been waiting for months and all we can get from the library site is Crazy Horse. It’s over!!! We want to get ready for 2008 NOW!
Responding to Judy Owens:
Thanks so much for your interest in 2008 One Book One Nebraska. We hope to have materials ready for the 2008 program by January 2008. The University Press has volunteered to work with the One Book Committee to get these materials produced.
In the meantime, I assume your library will be buying the books and scheduling local book discussion sessions according to whatever times work best in your community. When the author selects the 2008 timeframe that will work for him to travel to present local programs, we’ll be sure to post the details.
PS: “Crazy Horse” activities continue throughout 2007. Just a few weeks ago, Dr. Paul Olson joined a group of readers on Lincoln Community Radio KZUM for a great discussion of this seminal work by Mari Sandoz. Respond to this message if you would like a cd of that program.
Responding to Pam Bohmfalk and Belle Williams:
The Library Commission has a recording of the author reading “Restoring the Burnt Child.” It is currently only authorized for use by individuals that qualify for our Talking Book and Braille Service (individuals that can’t see to read or hold a book).
We are currently exploring the permissions to use that recording to create CD versions of the book that could be made available through libraries. We’ll let you know what develops. Thanks again for your interest in 2008 One Book One Nebraska.
Stromsburg Public Library has participated in all the One Book, One Nebraska programs and has had success with all, especially the Cather selection. While Crazy Horse stretched me, I was glad to read it. Most of those I spoke with were not willing to struggle through the book. We tried to help by passing out sheets tracing a time line and an explanation of words used by tribes and by soldiers and settlers. We also displayed shorter books on Crazy Horse that we encouraged patrons to read if they were unwilling to read the Sandoz work.
I think the 2008 selection will be much more manageable for general readers. I’m anxious to get the materials for it as we are planning to introduce it at the Brown Bag Lunch program the first week of March.
On Tuesday, January 22, Governor Dave Heineman will issue a proclamation for the 2008 One Book One Nebraska program at a ceremony in the State Capitol Warner Chamber beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Governor Heineman Proclaims Year of 2008 as One Book One Nebraska Reads “Restoring The Burnt Child” See the photo at
http://www.governor.nebraska.gov/proclamations/2008/2008_01_22/one_book.html
One Book One Nebraska 2008 Website Now Available
The Website, funded by University of Nebraska Press and hosted at the Nebraska Library Commission, can be accessed at http://www.onebookonenebraska.org. It features book discussion materials, a downloadable poster and press kit to help libraries publicize One Book One Nebraska activities, information for library loan of book club kits, and a calendar of events. The site also includes information about how to schedule the author for an event in your community and how to apply for funding from the Nebraska Humanities Council. Public programs sponsored by not-for-profit organizations may be eligible for funding assistance from the Nebraska Humanities Council. For more information about Kloefkorn’s program, O the Stories We Tell: Did That Really Happen?, see http://www.nebraskahumanities.org/speakers/speakersindex.html and http://www.nebraskahumanities.org/speakers/hrceligibility.html for application and eligibility requirements. Please take a look at the Website and let us know how it works for you–just Post a Comment below.
Posters to this Blog pointed out the importance of audio and large-print versions of the book and the University of Nebraska Press graciously granted permission for the Nebraska Library Commission to reproduce the book in audio CD and large print manuscript formats. These formats will be available for loan only through Nebraska libraries and only in 2008. Reproduction or copying of the book on CD or in large print is expressly forbidden. Nebraska libraries can borrow the book in these alternate formats by contacting Reference/Information Desk at the Library Commission, 800-307-2665, 402-471-4016, or e-mail
Nebraska public and academic libraries can email Jennifer Wrampe to order a copy of the book on CD and/or the large print version for the library collection. The book on CD and the large print manuscript are free of charge to libraries, but must be returned to the Nebraska Library Commission at the end of 2008. Since there is a limited number of the book in these formats, please plan to share copies between libraries. Please let us know what you think–just click below on comment.