"I first heard on the radio that everyone in Chicago was reading To Kill a Mockingbird during the same week, and that they were doing because Seattle had already done it.  I thought to myself,  If those two cities can do it, Long Beach can certainly do it, too!  Imagine how great it would be if everyone read the same book discussed the same book shared their learning and got to know each other!  Wow that would be fun!  So, I did a little research and phoned some people and before you know it, I'd more or less figured out what it took.  A dear friend, Diane Jacobus, loved the idea and put me in touch with the Library Foundation and we were off and running!

One thing we did from the start, and which distinguishes us from most other cities, is to involve the School District very intensely.  We always choose a book that can be enjoyed by students some years high school and other years lower grades.  Every year, the Superintendent has partnered with us in one way or another, and so we've spread our reach way beyond the libraries, so that we truly have a multi-generational event every time.  Some years the School District buys the books for the students, some years we take that responsibility, and this year, we got donations of the books from around the country!  That makes this year truly unique!

We've always taken primarily a coordinator role, so Book Week is truly a grassroots event other organizations sponsor their events and we assist, but they take ultimate responsibility.  My Co-Chair Susan Redfield and I often comment on the incredible creativity that our partners exhibit with their programs!  If we sat down and thought up every program we could, we'd never come up with the astonishing array of events that our partners bring to Book Week.  Because we choose a different book each year, our partners shift a bit from one time to the next.  The programs are different, and we meet many new people across the community.

I cannot express what a joy it has been to be involved with Book Week! The many, many avid readers and people who yearn for that connection to their community have made this annual program so worthwhile and so much fun.  I have met wonderful friends each year. I hope the community loves it as much as I do!"