“Librarian’s Shelf” by  Sally Hansen There are many wonderful books that would work in a One Book-One Community Program. If you’ve been keeping up with Lincoln, Omaha, and actually, the whole State of Nebraska, are all in the process of choosing books for their respective communities to read. The following is a great list of candidates for the selection committees to consider if any of my book clubs, or patrons that I advise as the Readers Advisor for Columbus Public Library, are still in the market for “discussible” books to put on their lists. I will offer the following titles; also, a short synopsis, and possible themes to consider. Film adaptations are available for many of these titles. “A Tree Grows In Brooklyn” by Betty Smith---Set in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn at the turn of the 20th century, this classic novel offers a detailed and an unsentimental portrait of a struggling family. Themes: coming of age, family relationships, alcoholism survival, urban life, the importance of education, poverty. “The Bean Trees” by Barbara Kingsolver. ---When Taylor Greer heads west with high hopes and a barely functional car, she meets the human condition head-on. When she finally arrives in Tucson, she has acquired a completely unexpected child and must somehow come to terms with both motherhood and the necessity for putting down roots. Themes: community, alienation, immigration, friendship. Also by Barbara Kingsolver: “Animal Dreams”, “Pigs in Heaven”, “The Poisonwood Bible”, “And Prodigal Summer”. “The Bridge of San Luis Rey” by Thornton Wilder. --- After a tiny foot-bridge breaks and five people hurtle to their deaths, Brother Juniper, the Franciscan monk who witnessed the accident, questions why, in the random nature of life, tragedy befell these five people? Themes: destiny, divinity, salvation. “The Sweet Hereafter” by Russell Banks. Along the same lines, this wrenching novel portrays the aftermath of a deadly school bus accident. Using four different narrators, Banks creates a small-town morality play that addresses one of life’s most agonizing questions: when the worst thing happens, who do you blame? Themes: community, redemption, grief, responsibility. Also by Russell Banks: “Continental Drift”, “Rule of the Bone”, “Cloudsplitter” Our first foray into the One Book-One Columbus project was a very successful venture. We want to thank The Honorable Judge Patrick McDermott. He was absolutely phenomenal. The theme had been: “Creative Sentencing in the Juvenile Justice System”. His understanding of the book and the ability to tie the Juvenile Court System and the characters in the novel together was absolutely perfect. I would like to publicly thank Judge McDermott for his time, energy, and input. Thursday February 23, 2006 will have been the first community-wide book discussion. I know the event will be just as successful. Thank you’s and kudo's to Columbus Public Library Discussion Group. They took on the task of hosting both events. The torts, bars, brownies, and cookies were incredible. We hope to build the audience with each event. The “word-of-mouth” method hopefully will make these next workshops a great success. But, the most effective method by far, has been the co-operation of the Columbus Telegram. Their frequent articles about One Book-One Columbus; the enthusiasm from the publisher, editor, and the reporters; and the full-page spread given to the project, have been the shot in the arm that was needed to inform, excite, and encourage the citizens of Columbus and the surrounding communities to participate in the Libraries’ inaugural One Book-One Columbus community wide reading event. The Columbus Chamber of Commerce and the Sesquicentennial Committee very graciously donated the posters and Schedule of Events Bookmarks that are all around town. The Library is giving away the bookmarks with the schedule of all the meetings. Stop by and pick one up!!! There is one error on the Bookmark---the “Three Area Football Coaches Workshop—the Value of School Athletics” will be March 14, 2006---BUT, that is a TUESDAY. Mark your calendar---It should be a very interesting and enlightening workshop, I hate to think anyone might miss it because of the error.