In 1998, the Washington Center for the Book introduced the concept of “One Book” projects across the U.S.A. and around the world. Hundreds of people have participated in Howard County Reads, the annual community-wide reading program sponsored by the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library and Greentown Public Library.

In the last four years, hundreds of people have participated in Howard County Reads, the annual community-wide reading program sponsored by the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library and Greentown Public Library. The concept of “One Book” projects around the world began in 1998 by the Washington Center for the Book in Seattle, Washington and was introduced in our community in 2004.

Past Howard County Reads selections include:

• O Pioneers! by Willa Cather
• Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns
• The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
• The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

Our libraries began gathering nominations for the next great book in January 2008 and kept nominations open for several months. A community selection committee will meet in late spring and narrow the list to 20 titles. Later the committee narrowed the list to the top five, and then the winning title was selected in the summer. The events planned around the selected title will take place in the fall.

The following criteria were considered for nominated books for Howard County Reads:

• well-written
• appropriate for group discussions
• available in paperback and other formats
• interesting to adults
• not too long

 

“Our goal is to cultivate a love of reading and to promote a sense of community.”

Read, then attend an event Step 1: Get the book! Check out the book or audio book of Three Cups of Tea at any Kokomo-Howard County Public Library location or at the Greentown Public Library. You may purchase the title at our libraries, Books-a-Million, or Don’s Books. Step 2: Read! Join many of your family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors in reading the same book, Three Cups of Tea. Step 3: Discuss! Join one of our book discussions or organize your own book discussion at your home, office, organization, or place of worship and discuss Three Cups of Tea. If you would like us to provide a leader for your discussion, or would like some additional books or study materials for your discussion, please call 454-4710. Step 4: ATTEND PROGRAMS! Get involved with your community. Come to the programs described in the following pages. Plan your own activity Any business, social or professional organization, group of family, friends or neighbors can easily get involved. Develop an activity that ties in to the themes of Three Cups of Tea and schedule it for some time between September 1 and October 31, 2006. Share your ideas with Trisha Shively at 765.454.4710 or Margi Bontrager at 765.628.3534 so it becomes an official Howard County Reads event. Here’s a list of suggested activities. Implement these ideas, or come up with your own events: Form a lunch time book discussion group at your place of employment Teachers can give extra credit to students who attend a Howard County Reads event Have your book club discuss Three Cups of Tea School drama departments plan theatrical readings or productions Have your civic, social, or professional organization hold a program on the Civil War.	Call 765.454.4710 or email read@howardcountyreads.org if you want to borrow books and Resource Guides to use with your classes.
	Businesses & Organizations
	If your business or organization would like to host a book discussion, please let us know. Call 765.454.4710 or email read@howardcountyreads.org.