Community Wide Read Event - 2011
1) The Milaca Community Library along with the Milaca community area chose the book, Sweet Land by Will Weaver as their Community Read title. A young adult companion title, Memory Boy by Will Weaver was also chosen. Adult and teen book discussions were held plus a showing of the movie, Sweet Land. Author, Will Weaver, visited the library to talk about the book and the movie.
2) The Rush City Public Library and Hinckley Public Library along with their respective communities chose the book, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, as their Community Read title. A juvenile companion title, Number the Stars, was also chosen. Adult and juvenile book discussions will be held plus a showing of the movie, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. An exhibit from the Traces Center for Culture and History called OTHER LOSSES: The WWII POW Experience and the Midwest will educate the public on the American side of internment during WWII. The Minnesota History Player, Virginia Mae Hope, visited both the Hinckley Elementary and Rush City Elementary school and presented a program about being a WASP (Woman Air Force Service Pilot) during WWII to students.
3) The Cambridge Public Library along with the Cambridge community area chose the book, Little Bee by Chris Cleave as their Community Read title. Adult book discussions will be held and author of Little Bee Chris Cleave, will make an appearance.
4) The Chisago Lakes Area Library along with the Chisago Lakes community area chose the book, Sweet Land by Will Weaver as their Community Read title. A young adult companion title, Memory Boy by Will Weaver was also chosen. Adult and teen book discussions were held plus a showing of the movie, Sweet Land. Author, Will Weaver, visited the library to talk about the book and the movie. He also visited the Chisago Lakes Middle School to talk with teens about the book, Memory Boy. The Chisago Lakes Historical Society provided two programs to accompany the community read dealing with topics relevant to Sweet Land. Photographer, Doug Ohman, visited the Library to talk about his book, Barns, which Will Weaver narrated.
Event Dates, Locations and Attendance at each individual event:
February 3, 2011 – Movie Presentation – Milaca Community Library (25)
February 9, 2011 – Teen Book Discussion – Milaca Community Library (3)
February 11, 2011 – Adult Book Discussion – Milaca Community Library (8)
February 15, 2011 – Will Weaver Visit – Milaca Community Library (21)
March 22, 2011 – Book Discussion – Hinckley Public Library (7)
March 24, 2011 – Book Discussion – Hinckley-Finlayson High School Board Room – (15)
March 30, 2011 – Virginia Mae Hope – MHS History Player – Hinckley Public School (247)
March 30, 2011 – Virginia Mae Hope – MHS History Player – Rush City Public School (135)
March 31, 2011 – Movie Presentation – Hinckley Public Library (9)
March 28, 2011 – Movie Presentation – Rush City Public Library (9)
April 5, 2011 – Book Discussion – Rush City Community Center (3)
April 5, 2011 – Book Discussion – Rush City Public Library – (10)
March 15, 2011 – Photographer Doug Ohman – Chisago Lakes Area Library (22)
April 13, 2011 – Teen Book Discussion – Chisago Lakes Area Library (0)
April 14, 2011 – Movie Presentation – Chisago Lakes Area Library (16)
April 19, 2011 – Author Will Weaver – Chisago Lakes Area Library (32)
April 19, 2011 – Author Will Weaver – Chisago Lakes High School (100)
April 21, 2011 – Adult Book Discussion – Chisago Lakes Public Library (6)
April 28, 2011 – Adult Book Discussion – Cambridge Public Library (15)
April 30, 2011 – Adult Book Discussion – Scout & Morgan Book Store (10)
May 10, 2011 – Author Chris Cleave – Cambridge-Isanti High School (119)
Partner Organization(s):
Friends of the Rush City Public Library, Rush City Elementary School; Hinckley-Finlayson Community Education, Hinckley Elementary School; Cambridge Community Wide Read committee, Cambridge-Isanti Community Education, Paul Skogerson, Scout & Morgan Books, City Center Market, Cambridge Rotary Club, Cambridge Friends of the Library; Chisago Lakes Middle School, Chisago Lakes Historical Society, Friends of the Chisago Lakes Library
Partner Organization(s) Contribution/Role in the Program:
Friends of the Rush City Library helped with the distribution of materials and the publicizing the program. The Rush City Elementary school facilitated the reading and discussion of the juvenile companion book, Number the Stars.
Hinckley-Finlayson Community Education assisted in the planning of the program, distribution of materials and the publicizing the program. The Hinckley Elementary school facilitated the reading and discussion of the juvenile companion book, Number the Stars.
The committee (members include Cambridge Public Library branch librarian, Scout & Morgan bookstore owner, several members of the Cambridge Friends of the Library, and the Director of Cambridge-Isanti Community Ed) helped choose the book, schedule the author, and publicize the event. Paul Skogerson, a local business owner, printed publicity materials and the Cambridge Rotary Club was also a sponsor of the event.
The friends of the Chisago Lakes Library provided refreshments for all programs as well as helping with publicizing the program. The Chisago Lakes Historical Society provided additional programs for the community read and helped with publicity. The Chisago Lakes middle school library staff helped with publicity and hosted the author.
Program Outputs: A total of 430 adults and 382 children attended the programs
Measurable Outcomes may be collected by survey, anecdotal responses, pre-test/post-test, observations; Describe proposed end user change in Behavior, Attitude, Skills, Knowledge, Condition and/or Status.The program will bring the community together through a shared reading experience, promote literacy and build relationships in the community.
Milaca(anecdotal outcomes - author visit)"Mr. Weaver was very personable - very open. We were comfortable in asking questions - which he answered very well.""He helped the audience understand the journey of a story from the first seed of an idea to a form for mass audiences."(anecdotal outcomes - book discussion)"It was better than I thought it would be. Lots of good ideas and lots of sharing.""People felt free - questions were good by leader - good discussion."(anecdotal outcomes - movie showing)"Not close enough to the book story.""Really good movie - fairly innocent story about two good people caught in a sea of prejudice and how they overcame it to live good solid lives."
Hinckley
(anecdotal outcomes - book discussion)"It was great to have new faces and perspectives to discuss with.""Really good - enjoyed the student's input" (anecdotal outcomes - Movie Showing)"Good, Informative!" "Thanks to the Library - without them we wouldn't have been able to have the movie showing."
Rush City
(anecdotal outcomes - book discussion)"Great discussion: It reopened my eyes to the events of WWII and lots of knowledge to gain and share!""It was more enjoyable than I thought it would be. Good, intelligent discussion. Thought provoking and upbeat despite the "tough" topic."(anecdotal outcomes - Movie Showing)"Good conversation and discussion. I like the fact that the movie was shown before the book discussion." "I usually avoid Holocaust films because I find them too difficult to watch. I think this one, being done from a child's perspective makes it much more viewable while still getting the message across. Great movie quality. Good sound - it would not be worth it if the picture & sound weren't so good. Thank you!"
Cambridge
(anecdotal outcomes - book discussion)"This book is incredible for the way (craft) of it's writing but more so for its impatct of how we challenge our thinking""Very Interesting"(anecdotal outcomes - Author Visit)"Wow - what a humble & wonderful speaker! I so enjoyed hearing Chris discuss his perspective as an author. Great! Thank you so much!!""It's wonderful & unexpected to get an author of this caliber in Cambridge. So timely, too.""More than exceeded my expectations of this as an author's visit and talk!"
Chisago Lakes-(anecdotal outcomes - author visit)
"My first visit to author showing! Enjoyed very much.""He is very nice and his books are great. I think you should give every student this opportunity.""I think it was a great opportunity for students hoping to be an author someday, and meet a real one. I also think many students should have a chance to see an author sometime too."(anecdotal outcomes - book discussion)"Good rapport, good commentary, leader direction was good.""The stories left me with unanswered questions."(anecdotal outcomes - movie showing)"Most interesting; what it must have been like to start with nothing - but a dream!""Hard to follow story back and forth, time changes and didn't follow the book."(anecdotal outcomes - photographer visit)"Interesting topic, great stories, great presentation.""This is our second opportunity to hear Mr. Ohman. He was wonderful on both occasions. His stories that accompany the pics made the presentation especially meaningful. Thank you."