Reading Together

For 20 years, Kalamazoo Public Library has hosted a community reading initiative called Reading Together that aims to build community relationships across differences through the common experience of reading the same book. Each year a single book—or occasionally more than one—has been selected by a KPL-organized committee. Several local events are scheduled to provide opportunities for discussion and exploration with others who have also read the book, and KPL has brought the author of many Reading Together titles to Kalamazoo for a public appearance that usually draws hundreds of curious residents.

Thank you to everyone who participated in focus groups and/or responded to the online survey about Reading Together earlier this year. We are pleased to announce that, in response to that public feedback, Reading Together is coming back in 2024, starting with a public suggestion period from May 17-31, 2023.

Summary of Selection timeline:

• Late May – Public Suggestion Period
• Summer – Committee Review Period
• Late August – Public vote
• Early September – Title announced

Following announcement of the title, a second committee, representing KPL, other area libraries, and community partner organizations, will develop a calendar of events that, with the Reading Together title serving as the catalyst, will bring readers together across differences.

Suggest a title