CNY Reads, the largest "one book, one community" program in New York state, will place free copies of this year's book selection, "North Star Conspiracy" (Penguin USA, 1995) by Miriam Grace Monfredo, in several public locations throughout Syracuse for readers of all ages to pick up, read and pass on to another.
To celebrate the beginning of Black History Month, books will be available for pickup at these and other selected locations beginning Wednesday, Feb. 1: Onondaga County Public Library at the Galleries; Syracuse University Bookstore; Dunbar Association; Onondaga Historical Association and Museum; Matilda Joslyn Gage House; Beauchamp Branch Library; Syracuse University Library; Central New York Teacher's Center; the InterReligious Council of Central New York; Delavan Art Center; Onondaga Community College; May Memorial Church; The Learning Place; By The Lake Books in Cazenovia; YMCA/Downtown Writer's Center; Creekside Bookstore in Skaneateles; The Erie Canal Museum; and Syracuse Stage.
"We want everyone to have the opportunity to read "North Star Conspiracy" and to participate in CNY programs offered over the next few months," says Gregory Griffin, chair of CNY Reads and senior director of library development and external relations at Syracuse University Library. "The 'Read It and Pass It On' program is a fun way to allow people to pick up a copy of our CNY Reads selection, visit the community organizations so vital to the culture, support and proud history of our region, and share the experience with others," Griffin says.
Griffin has no idea what sort of returns to expect from the program, but hopes that most of the postage-paid postcards placed in the front of the 250 books that
will be distributed will return filled with names of those who read "North Star Conspiracy" when the program officially closes in June.
Led by Syracuse University Library Associates and including many Central New York partners, CNY Reads promotes reading, research, discovery and sharing of perspectives among readers across Central New York by encouraging them to read the same book and participate in related programs. Programs such as "Read It and Pass It On" are made possible by grants from the Central New York Community Foundation and the Rosamond Gifford Foundation.
For more information on the CNY Reads program and consortium, contact Griffin at the
SU Library at 443-2537 or grgriffi@syr.edu, or visit the
CNY Reads website at: http://library.syr.edu/cnyreads.
