“One city, one book” programs are designed to bring communities closer together, and to promote literacy.~Photo by Bobbie Toner Ashley Troutman Have you read a good book lately? Somerville now has its own "one city, one book" program. Somerville Reads encourages everyone in the community to read and then unite under the selected title. The Executive Director of the Somerville Public Library, Nancy Milnor, applied for a grant to fund the program. "One city, one book" programs are designed to bring communities closer together, and to promote literacy. The first program was launched in Seattle in 1998, and other cities have been mirroring the campaign ever since.

A committee of librarians and other Somerville residents chose The Things They Carried, by Tim O'Brien, for the first community wide read. O'Brien's novel centers on American soldiers who took part in the Vietnam War. The title is a metaphor for both the physical and emotional baggage that the soldiers were forced to carry. The captivating book was a finalist for both the 1990 Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award.

Somerville Reads makes it easy to get your hands on a copy of the book. You can check out a copy of The Things They Carried at any library in Somerville. The Main Library is on Highland Avenue, the West Branch is located in Davis Square, and the East Branch is on Broadway. They offer the standard and large print versions, and they're expecting some in Spanish. The audio version can be downloaded from their website at: somervillepubliclibrary.org. Additionally, copies of the book marked with the Somerville Reads logo were dropped off at several venues for residents to borrow.

Somerville Reads will have an official kick-off concert on March 28th from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Arts Armory on Highland Avenue. The concert will feature Vietnam War era music by The Band That Time Forgot, and their special guests. Refreshments will be refreshments served, the event is free, and all are welcome.

Several other events are scheduled throughout the month of April. Karen Quigley, Assistant Executive Director of the Somerville Library said, "We will hold a bunch of different programs such as concerts, movie showings, and discussion groups." To see the complete calendar, visit the library's website.