Full Text (PDF) - Mississippi Library Association

Mississippi Libraries Vol. 68, No. 1, Spring 2004 Page 4Two other working committees developedvolunteer rosters of 25 speakersand 12 experienced discussion groupleaders whose services were available toclub and church groups, civic organizations,etc. upon request (form in back ofthe Tool Kit and on the Web site).In order to further promote the bookand area residents’ exposure to it frommid-summer into the fall, the eight librarybranches hosted informal weekly “listeningsessions” to the audiotapes on Tuesdays,and “viewing sessions” of the videotapeson Thursdays.Prior to Mr. Gaines’ appearance inlate October, OJOB working committeesplanned a series of public events relatedto the book for the Jackson community.All programs were open to the public atno charge, and were followed by Q & Asessions.On September 10 City CouncilmanDr. Leslie McLemore spoke at the AnnualMembership Meeting of the JacksonFriends of the Library about the novel andthe importance of the ONE JACKSONONE BOOK project to the community.Millsaps College presented six professionalReaders Theatre performances of theplay version from September 17 through21, and made the novel required readingfor all entering freshmen.The OJOB project sponsored a seriesof five weekly public discussions on consecutiveThursdays at Welty Library. OnSeptember 18, a Creole Tasting washeld, followed by the first discussion,“Setting the Scene.” On the followingThursdays, discussion programs includeda professional reading from the book onSept. 25; “Matriarchs and Mentors: TheRole of Women” on Oct. 2; “Issues ofReligion and Ethics” on Oct. 9; and “OneBook, Many Stories” on Oct. 16. OnOctober 23, the Hinds County Bar Associationconducted a public panel discussionon the criminal justice system andcapital punishment issues at a TownMeeting at the Old Capitol MuseumHouse Chamber. Approximately 370Jackson area residents attended these sixpublic events, and facilities were contributedat no charge by the library systemand the Old CapitolMuseum. In addition,there were numerousdiscussion groups heldby local communityclubs, homeowners’associations, bookclubs, and churchgroups.Ernest J. Gaines visitedJackson to culminatethe ONE JACK-SON ONE BOOK projecton October 30-31.The adult component ofthe project featured twoevening events formetro area residentsfrom young peoplethrough senior citizens.On Thursday in theConcert Hall at BelhavenCollege Centerfor the Arts, he read from and discussedhis novel, A Lesson Before Dying. OnFriday evening at St. Andrew’s Cathedral,he spoke about his writing, discussedinfluences that directed his career as anauthor, and answered questions from apanel of writers and teachers. Over 300adults attended these two events, and thefacilities were donated by Belhaven Collegeand the Cathedral.Mr. Gaines spent the other half of histime in Jackson meeting with middle andhigh school students at two morningevents held at Thalia Mara Auditorium.On Thursday he met with approximately650 middle schoolers who had read,been taught and discussed in the classroomthe short story “The Sky Is Gray.”On Friday he met with over 1200 areahigh school students who had likewisestudied the novel A Lesson Before Dying.The City of Jackson donated use of theauditorium at no charge for these twoevents.The OJOB Steering committee feltthat this educational component of theproject was of utmost importance, andthat Mr. Gaines is an impressive rolemodel that area students could beinspired by and identify with. From hisONE JACKSON ONE BOOK Co-Chairwoman, Ruth Campbell; Co-Chairwoman & Jackson Friends of the Library President, Ward Sumner,and Honorary Chairwoman, Kathy Johnson, wife of Jackson Mayor, HarveyJohnson.ONE BOOK Many Stories panel: Monique Guillory,Assoc. Prof. of English, JSU; Rabbi Debra Kassoff,Institute of Southern Jewish Life; Eric Stringfellow,Clarion-Ledger; Frank Garrison, Attorney; moderator,Donna Ladd, editor, Jackson Free Press. Thepanel presented reminiscences and viewpointsfrom various lives from different backgrounds atone of the OJOB events.own experiences, Mr. Gaines understandsproblems of under-education and theopportunities that a good education andlifelong learning can provide. Until theage of 15, he was raised in a Louisianaparish where there was no high schoolthat he could attend, and where African-Americans were not allowed by law to usethe public libraries.