Masterpiece Theatre | Learning Resources

The "Community Reads" Concept

What is a "Community Reads" Campaign?
A "Community Reads" campaign brings members of a community together to read and discuss the same book at the same time. The objectives of this type of programming are to strengthen community ties and promote literacy. In 1998 Nancy Pearl, executive director of the Washington Center for the Book at the Seattle Public Library, pioneered the idea of having everyone in a city read the same book at the same time and then meet for discussion groups. She called the campaign a "City Read" and her model was copied successfully, first in Buffalo and Rochester and then, to much acclaim, in Chicago and in other cities and towns around the country. In Kentucky, the entire state was encouraged to read the same book.

Although launching a campaign like this requires a commitment from both the library and community partners, the results can be very gratifying. Using a Masterpiece Theatre title can provide additional publicity and media tie-in possibilities.

Launching Your Campaign

Form an organizing committee.
This core group can include library staff as well as community leaders. Give yourself lots of lead time! Once the committee is established, you can approach organizations you might want to partner with and invite them to join. The committee can develop the structure and plan the "Community Reads" campaign.
Secure community participation.
Ask the head of the English department at your local high school if faculty members would be interested in teaching the title you have selected for your "Community Reads" campaign. Enlist local print shops and public relations firms to help you by designing and printing posters about the campaign and getting the word out. Ask your local PBS station about televising one of your discussion groups. Raise funds from community businesses and library patrons to buy multiple copies of the book. (See Community Partners for more ideas about partnerships.)
Create a schedule of events.
Print bookmarks, posters, or buttons that publicize your "Community Reads" campaign. Include dates and times for large events, small discussion groups, children's activities, and public viewing (or broadcast) times for films (if you have the appropriate public viewing license at your library).
Plan a kick-off event.
Organize and publicize an event that all members of a family can enjoy. Examples include an ice cream social (for Our Town), a classic English tea party (for Goodbye, Mr. Chips), or an international food festival with an emphasis on Russian food (for Doctor Zhivago). Use this event as a way to sign up library patrons for small group discussions about the title.
Invite the children's librarian to join in.
Although the films and books from this season's Masterpiece Theatre programs are primarily for adults, your children's librarian can plan age-appropriate programming that corresponds to some aspect of the chosen title. Examples include story hours or crafts that reflect the themes of the "Community Reads" book, such as reading Russian folk tales for Doctor Zhivago.
Coordinate with the young adult librarian.
Many of the Masterpiece Theatre titles are on middle school and high school reading lists. The young adult librarian may be able to offer programming, book lists, and other resources for teens.
Schedule small groups to discuss the "Community Reads" book and film. Conduct these sessions as you would any other book or film club meetings. (See Getting Started for specifics.)
Plan a culminating event.
As a way to reflect upon and appreciate the ways your community benefited from your "Community Reads" campaign, hold a final event at the library. For example, create displays of artifacts, artwork, and essays about the title. Invite library patrons to a reception at which they can discuss the exhibits. Use the occasion to thank the community partners and people who participated in a successful "Community Reads" campaign.

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