505 North - It's time for One Book One Barrington 2013!

The Barrington Area Library is proud to kick off its third "One Book One Barrington" community reading event. Yes, it's a marketing cliche, but this year's One Book program really is going to be bigger and better than ever before! Not only are we featuring an amazing book, Unbroken, the latest best seller by Laura Hillenbrand (of Seabiscuit fame), but we are partnering with District 220, the PTO President's Council and dozens of local organizations and businesses to truly create a community event like no other.

Unbroken has spent more than 100 consecutive weeks on the New York Times best seller list and was hailed by TIME magazine and the Los Angeles Times as the best work of non-fiction in 2010. It tells the riveting, true story of Louis Zamperini, a WWII airman and former US Olympic distance runner. After the crash of his B-24, Zamperini floated through the Pacific in a tiny life raft, ultimately traveling 2,000 miles before being captured and enduring Japanese prison camps for two years.

The library worked closely with a team from District 220 and the PTO to select this book, believing its themes of resilience and relationships were a great fit for the Barrington community. Every reader will learn something from Zamperini's struggles and triumphs and come away feeling inspired to take on their own challenges with new determination and strength.

But what is a "community reading event?" For three months, from February - April 2013, the library will host related events all over the Barrington area. We'll lead book discussions about Unbroken as well as similar titles at Barrington High School, The Annex lounge and Cook Street Coffee, Erewhon Mountain Outfitters and Anna Shea Chocolates. Click here to see more options for teens and younger readers. Reading and sharing a book with others can build stronger family, neighborhood and community relationships. It's also simply a fun, creative way to spend your time, make new friendships, and broaden your intellectual horizons.

In addition, we invite you to explore more deeply the themes found in Unbroken. Join us for lectures, musical programs, a community art project, scavenger hunts for children, community conversations on stimulating topics, film screenings and, to cap it all off, a celebratory dance featuring swing dancing lessons and a live band! There are programs and activities for all age groups and interests - to see the full schedule, pick up a One Book One Barrington brochure at the library or simply click through to see the OBOB Web site: balibrary.org/OBOB.

One Book One Barrington officially begins on Friday, February 8, 8 PM, with a very unique program combining a lecture with live musical performance. Featuring the Barrington High School Jazz Band and taking place in the BHS cafeteria, join us for an intriguing look at jazz music and how the Nazis used it as propaganda during World War II. Register now.

We hope you'll join us for One Book One Barrington 2013 and Laura Hillenbrand's Unbroken!