What if we all got together and read just one story?
Proudly announcing our third annual One Book, One Community!
Join your community, friends, neighbors, fellow readers, this May to discuss West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge.
One Book, One Community is as simple as it sounds, people coming together through the reading and discussion of a common book. While this program has been taking place across communities of all shapes and sizes for over 20 years, South Fayette held its very first One Book, One Community in 2021.
This year, a committee comprised of five community members each proposed two books, then voted to select West with Giraffes. Committee members included Kathy Brown, Bruce Galford, Andrea Iglar, Charline Rowland, and the Library’s Adult Programming Coordinator, Sarah Grebinoski. The committee considered factors such as universal appeal, strength of discussion topics, availability, and potential for complementary library programming.
West with Giraffes is an emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America. Part adventure, part historical saga, and part coming-of-age love story, West with Giraffes explores what it means to be changed by the grace of animals, the kindness of strangers, the passing of time, and a story told before it’s too late.
Copies of West with Giraffes are now available at the library. Reserve your copy now!
Everyone is invited to attend one or both of the community discussions, Monday, May 22 at 7:00 PM and Tuesday, May 23 at 11:00 AM at the South Fayette Senior Center (515 Millers Run Road, Morgan, PA – Rear Entrance; adjacent to the library) Please pre-register for the conversations below.
Join us for a community conversation:
More Programs:
Several other programs throughout the summer have been planned around the book. Whether you read with us this year or not, please JOIN US for:
- Take A Trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo
Saturday, May 13 at 10:30 AM
Meet Zoo Registrar, Heather Terrell, for a photographic journey detailing the ins and outs of zoo animal transport from one zoo to another. The giraffe keepers will be there to talk to us about resident giraffes – Lewis and Sox.
All day admission group rate is $15/adult
REGISTER FOR THE ZOO TRIP
- Meet Joseph Szalanski, author of
Boarding the Westbound: Journey of a Depression-era Hobo
Monday, June 5 at 7:00 PM at the library
Joseph’s father was a hobo who traveled to 48 states on just 48 cents during the Great Depression. While traveling, he kept a daily journal describing everything he saw and all his adventure. His son has turned those journal entries into a book that gives us a great insight into life during the Depression.
REGISTER FOR THE AUTHOR TALK WITH JOE SZALANSKI
- Look for more programs celebrating One Book, One Community all summer long! Stay tuned to this page and our social media for updates!
“The idea is that the city that opens the same book closes it in greater harmony.” — Mary McGrory, The Washington Post, March 17, 2002
2021
by Matt Haig
2022
by Rachel Joyce
2023
by Lynda Rutledge