Representatives from 14 Western North Carolina (WNC) counties, including Polk County, met at UNC-A to confirm their support for a cooperative community reading program.

 More specifically for the existing Together We Read (TWR).  Prompted by financial and organizational changes, the meeting followed a call for participation issued to all public and academic libraries in WNC. Those in attendance affirmed their support for continuing TWR including centering the 2009 activities on Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, the title selected prior to the reorganization.  

“Our primary purpose is to foster a sense of community in WNC through the reading and discussion of our best regional writers,” said Ed Sheary, Director of Buncombe County Public Libraries and one of the founders of TWR.  The program began in 2002 and is considered to be one of the best community reading programs in the nation. Janet McDonald, the Chair of TWR said: “A great deal of the success of TWR comes from the hard work, dedication, and vision of Rob Neufeld. Although he is no longer the Director, we plan to build on several of the firm foundations that he established.” The new organization will depend more upon grassroots cooperation than external funding for programs and support materials.

Participants in this year’s TWR will hold a kickoff in June 2009 and conclude in October. Events such as local speakers related to alternative agriculture, the importance of buying local and organic foods, and energy independence are a few of the topics that may be a part of the book discussions.

Details will be posted on the TWR website, http://togetherweread.org/ and on TWR’s new facebook page. If you are interested in having your group participate this year or are looking for a group to join, give Tracey Daniels a call at 828-894-8721 or email at tdaniels@publib.polknc.org.