One Book One Belmont Presents Better Through Books: Healing Community Together
The events of 2020 were profound, and we could not simply choose one topic for this year’s community read event, with one book, and the usual slate of programs.
So for 2021 and our eighth community reading program, The Belmont Public Library presents a dual focus which will cover a few different books and multiple programming opportunities that span 2 months, rather than the traditional one-month program. In this unique time, the One Book, One Belmont committee has decided that the theme for our community read must be healing – healing from a devastating year that we will never forget.
The library and our community organization cosponsors invite Belmont residents to read across a variety of titles and participate in all of the exciting programs throughout March and April.
In March, E. Dolores Johnson, author of Say I’m Dead: A Family Memoir of Race, Secrets, and Love, will be the keynote speaker for our month-long focus on anti-racism and celebration of equity, diversity, and inclusion on March 30th.
In April, the focus shifts to wellness, specifically the need for coping, optimism, and resiliency. There will be many events to attend and books to read, including the thoughtful Opening to Grief: Finding Your Way from Loss to Peace by Claire B. Willis & Marnie Crawford Samuelson and the uplifting The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by New York Times best-selling author Gabrielle Zevin, who will be joining us on April 28th for a keynote talk.
Check out the full slate of Better Through Books events!
The library would like to thank the 2021 Planning Committee members for the time, energy, and creativity they have devoted to this project:
Kathryn Bonfiglio | Belmont Against Racism |
Gail Gorman | Belmont Books |
Lixin Qin | Belmont Chinese American Association |
Dana Bickelman | Belmont Council on Aging |
Suzanne Johannet | Belmont Food Collaborative |
Vicky Slavin | Belmont Food Collaborative |
Marie Mabardi | Friends of the Belmont Public Library |
Diane Coulopoulos | Friends of the Belmont Public Library |
Rebecca Richards | Belmont Gallery of Art |
Adine Storer | Belmont Gallery of Art |
Carrie Cartwright | Human Rights Commission |
Karen Duff | Belmont Public Schools |
Janet Sand | Belmont Religious Council |
Lisa Gibalerio | Belmont Wellness Coalition |
Maryann Scali | The Belmont Woman’s Club, League of Women Voters |
Mary Stearns | Board of Library Trustees |
Elaine Alligood | Board of Library Trustees |
Lauren Pfendner | Belmont Public Library – Co-Chair of The One Book One Belmont Committee |
Peter Struzziero | Belmont Public Library – Co-Chair of The One Book One Belmont Committee |