Programs

"Have YOU read the book yet?" 2010 Program: The 2010 committee is already working on choosing the book for next year's program. Top Three Final Candidates: Dewey, By Vicki Myron and Bret Witter Reaching Out, By Fransisco Jimenez The Soloist, By Steve Lopez

Read more about Greg Mortenson's incredible story.... If you would like to hold your own Book Week activity/event let us know by emailing: lbpl.foundation@charter.net

Our 2009 Long Beach Reads One Book program was held March 6-14, 2009 Featured Title: Three Cups of Tea - One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...                        One School at a Time Author: Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin  Synopsis: This true story follows mountain-climber Greg Mortenson in his assault on K2, the fiercest mountain in the world.  When his attempt fails and he loses his guide, he becomes broken and ill.  Accidentally he stumbles into a Pakistani village where his warmly greeted and cared for by local villagers.  While in the village he realizes the children do not have a school, and the practice their lessons in the dirt with sticks. From that time on, Mortenson devotes his life to building schools for some of the world's most desperately poor children--those youngsters in the villages of Pakistan and Afghanistan, the craggy rooftop of the world.  This longtime bestseller introduces us to Mortenson's fierce dedication to an incredible cause--peace--and leaves readers understanding that we have more in common with the people of this rugged region that most of us have ever suspected. Themes: Empowerment, Global Awareness, Mountains, Environment/Ecology, Compassion, Education and Perseverance   Additional Young Reader Formats: Our program will also incorporate the new "young reader" versions of this book targeted to middle school age students and pre-school children released in January 2009.

Project Description
Long Beach, California will launch its eighth citywide reading project, Long Beach Reads One Book. This community-focused cultural initiative is designed to bring people together and raise the standards of literacy by encouraging everyone in Long Beach to read the same book at the same time.

Long Beach Reads One Book engages the city by encouraging everyone in the community to read the same book and discuss it in a variety of venues and formats. All Long Beach area residents, including high school and college students, senior citizens, book clubs, elementary school students and this year, pre-school students will have an opportunity to get involved.  The Long Beach Public Library Foundation coordinates this multi-faceted program, which includes participation by dozens of Long Beach organization partners.

Leadership Chair:
Susan Redfield is chair for this year's Long Beach Reads One Book and Director on the Long Beach Public Library Foundation Board of Directors.

"To me Long Beach Reads One Book is one of the annual programs that makes this city so great. Here we have thousands of people from all over the world, living and working and playing and learning together, young, old, first generation and fourth or even fifth generation, all reading the same book and making the same connections about people and experiences and life."

"Of all the cities in America that do "Reads One Book" programs, Long Beach is one of the best, with such a diverse cross section of the city participating. I love it when the students read the book, they see things that I totally miss, kids from Cambodia, Mexico, the Phillipines, as well as those whose parents and grandparents were born here. Then members of a senior group read and share their wondrous memories and their own stories. It feels so important, with this simple program reflecting the sense of community where people associate with each other toward a positive objective, reading and growing in their understanding."

Sponsor of the CSULB Read-aloud online internet experience.