The Talbot County Free Library is seeking community partners for Maryland's first ever statewide reading program, One Maryland/One Book. One Maryland/One Book is part of the Maryland Humanities Council's program, “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Remembrance and Reconciliation.” This initiative commemorates the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. and seeks to engage communities throughout the state in an examination of the legacy of Dr. King, the current state of race relations in Maryland, and ways in which we can bridge the racial divide and resolve racial differences.

The book selected is the critically acclaimed, A Hope in the Unseen: A American Odyssey from Inner City to the Ivy League, by Ron Suskind. It is the true story of Cedric Jennings, who in 1993 was a teenager living and going to high school in one of Washington D.C.'s most dangerous neighborhoods. A Hope in the Unseen chronicles Cedric's odyssey during his last two years of high school, though his difficult first year at an Ivy League college, and his subsequent successes in college and the world of work. Its themes include important topics, such as inequalities in educational opportunities, and provides an opportunity to talk about race and race relations in Maryland and America.

Talbot Library is one of 22 public library systems in Maryland that will be participating in One Maryland / One Book. Other participants include colleges, high schools, and non-profit organizations throughout the state. Planning is still underway for Talbot County programs, but so far we have scheduled: facilitated book discussions, films, historic reenactments, scholar-led forums, and a Shore-wide art and writing competition for students in grades 9 thru 12. The grand prize for this competition will be $500.00 in each category. The library will also have more than 60 copies of the book that can be used in discussion groups. If you or your organization is interested in partnering with Talbot Library in this initiative, please contact Scotti Oliver at 410-822-1626 or soliver at tcfl dot org.

The official launch of the One Maryland/One Book will be June 14th at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore. First Lady Katie O'Malley is the Honorary Chair. A series of free public programs will take place across the state during August, September, and October 2008.

One Maryland/One Book is coordinated by the Maryland Center for the Book, a program of the Maryland Humanities Council in partnership with Enoch Pratt Free Library, the Maryland State Department of Education, and the Division of Library Development & Services. It is funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Find out more about the Teen Writing Contest and Teen YouTube Contest. Both in PDF.

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See our list of One Maryland/One Book Programs

One Maryland/One Book at the Maryland Humanities Council.