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'Tale' takes off
By Ben Beagle, Daily News Lifestyles Editor
March 15, 2003
People have been spotted reading copies of Leif Enger's Peace Like a River at a local blood drive. They've been overheard talking about the book in supermarkets, and while waiting in line at the bank.
And the libraries participating in "A Tale for Three Counties," an area-wide book discussion group featuring Enger's best-seller, report that their copies have been in almost continuous circulation for nearly two months.
Richmond Memorial Library in Batavia, where the project started, even went so far as to start a waiting list for the book.
"I am so pleased with how everything is turning out," said Leslie DeLooze, the community resources and reference librarian at Richmond, who is leading the project that includes libraries large and small in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
Book discussions at libraries that regularly have such programs have reported seeing new faces and people eager to talk about the book. The discussion at Wyoming Free Library lasted two hours, said director Jane Radomski; most discussions were expected to run about an hour.
"There's been a lot of talk about the book," DeLooze said.
And it's not over.
Book discussion groups, which have met since mid-February, continue at 10 a.m. today at Yates Community Library, Lyndonville, and 1 p.m. at Stevens Memorial Library, Attica, and 7 p.m. Thursday at Woodward Memorial Library, Le Roy.
Then, from March 27 to 29, Enger is scheduled to visit one library in each county for talks and booksignings. The visits will culminate more than a year of planning by the libraries.
Richmond has about 30 copies of the book in circulation. The other libraries have at least two, with Stevens Memorial Library in Attica and Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina having more than a dozen - and all have been circulating heavily, directors said.
"I've been surprised," said Mark Evans, director of Stevens Memorial Library. "He's a totally unknown author in my library, but people have responded."
Stevens, which typically has two or three copies of a single boo, has 16 copies of Peace Like a River.
Hard- and soft-cover copies of the book are also available for purchase through the libraries. Richmond has sold the most, about 40 copies, but the other libraries also report some sales.
"One of our goals was to introduce a new author to our readers," DeLooze said. "This is another encouraging sign."
The project has also fostered greater cooperation between libraries in the three counties which span two library systems. Wyoming County libraries are served through the Pioneer Library System; libraries in Genesee and Orleans counties are affiliated with the Nioga Library System.
"It's very refreshing to work with new people and everyone has been so helpful," Evans said. "Everyone found a niche."
Libraries in Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans counties have extra copies
of the book for loan or for purchase. To find out more about the project
and how you can participate, visit your local library or the Web at
http://tale3counties.nioga.org
Page 8B
Books Section
Courtesy of Batavia Newspapers Corporation