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'Tales' reading project spurs new book groups
By Ben Beagle, Daily News Lifestyles Editor
March 29, 2003
Readers participating in the "A Tale for Three Counties"
book discussion groups asked a lot of questions about the miracles
in Peace Like a River.
They remarked on the biblical names used for some members of the
Land family, but not the daughter, Swede.
And participants in discussions at several smaller libraries also wanted to know when they could do this again.
As a result, several of the smaller libraries participating in the project, are planning to start regular book discussion groups.
"It was a pleasant surprise," said Kelly March, director of the Corfu Public Library. "I tried to use it as a springboard. I wanted to use 'A Tale for Three Counties' as a way to piggyback more discussions."
One of the goals of the project was to get people excited about reading. Even before the project officially ends this afternoon, it would appear the libraries have succeeded.
"It worked exactly like we wanted it to," Leslie DeLooze, reference and community services librarian at Batavia's Richmond Memorial Library and organizer of the project, said earlier this week.
Richmond offers several book discussion series for adults and children. But many of the smaller libraries have not had regular discussions in the past, often because of staff or time constraints.
"It's interesting to see how the smaller libraries are accommodating discussion groups," DeLooze said.
Libraries such as Haxton Memorial Library in Oakfield and Wyoming Free Library are planning to meet seasonally, or about four times a year. Response to the discussion at Yates Community Library in Lyndonville has prompted officials to consider reviving a monthly "Book Gossip" program where readers gathered over coffee on Saturday mornings and talked about what books they were reading.
The Corfu Library is planning a book discussion every six weeks, and has already decided on the first four books. The next talk, scheduled for 7 p.m. April 10, begins with a classic, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
"We're going to center around the group's interests because I want this to be a group driven book, not a leader or moderated discussion," March said. "I want it to be very welcoming, like a coffee klatsch where people come in, sit back, and talk about the book."
The Oakfield and Wyoming libraries are planning new discussion programs -- and both are looking to use the same book, Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns.
Burns' story, told through the eyes of 14-year-old Will Tweedy follows his adventures in a Georgia town in the early part of the 20th century after his grandpa marries a young feminist milliner just three weeks after his wife's death.
Oakfield's next program will be at the end of April.
"I have a pretty great group of hard core readers that come in two or three times a week, so I'm not surprised at all that they're interested," said Jen Magee, director of the Oakfield library.
In Wyoming, the discussion for Peace Like a River lasted two hours, about twice as long as planned. "People had a lot to say," said director Jane Radomski "Everyone participated and before we knew it, two hours had passed."
Wyoming's next discussion is set for May 31.
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Lifestyles Section
Courtesy of Batavia Newspapers Corporation