One Book, One Community

By Hilery Walker, Community Relations Coordinator

March 22, 2006

What if everybody in one community read the same book?  Well, in Natrona County, we will have the chance to find out!  Throughout the month of April, Natrona County Public Library is holding its second One Book, One Community event, and you are invited to take part.  This year’s program will feature Harper Lee’s classic novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.”  While Lee’s book is famous for giving a glimpse into life in the South at the turn of the 19th century, the issues raised in the work, such as censorship, literacy and racial justice, are as prevalent and controversial now as they were then. 

One Book officially kicks off on Saturday, April 1 at 2:00 PM at the library.  Drop by for a chance to receive a free copy of “To Kill a Mockingbird.”  These books are pass-it-on copies, and while you don’t need to return them to the library, we do ask that you keep them circulating around the community by passing them on to friends and family.  The library has also added 25 copies of “To Kill a Mockingbird” to the collection, so if you are too late for a pass-it-on copy, there will be plenty available to check out.  

To supplement your “To Kill a Mockingbird” reading experience, the library has organized a number of One Book-related events throughout April.  If you are looking to discuss your thoughts about the novel, then join one of the library’s two book discussions scheduled for Monday, April 10 at 6:30 PM and Monday, April 24 at 7:00 PM.  Both will be held at Moody Brews café on Center Street.  Also, be sure to pick up a copy of the “To Kill a Mockingbird” trivia quiz – if you answer all of the questions correctly, you could win a gift certificate to one of Casper’s local bookstores. 

On Friday, April 7 at 7:30 PM, Casper College’s Steven Trinkle and the TKAM Festival Chamber Orchestra will perform the musical score for the film “To Kill a Mockingbird.”  This performance will take place at Casper College’s Durham Hall and will include the suite composed by Elmer Bernstein and a discussion led by the conductor.

Gregory Peck, Mary Badham and Robert Duvall return to the silver screen on Tuesday, April 11 at 7:00 PM during a special free showing of the 1962 adaptation of “To Kill a Mockingbird” at the Rialto Movie Theatre. Whether or not you have read the book, you won’t want to miss the chance to see this Academy Award-winning movie on the big screen.

2006’s One Book program will come to an end on Wednesday, April 26 at 6:30 PM with a lecture by Dr. Claudia Durst Johnson.  A leading scholar on Harper Lee and “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Dr. Johnson will examine various issues and themes raised in Lee’s masterpiece. This event will be held in the library’s Crawford Room.

Whether this is the first time you have picked up Lee’s classic story or are digging in again after reading the novel in high school, “To Kill a Mockingbird” will not disappoint you.  We hope you join us and make One Book a successful community event.

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