About the One Book Project

The community is joining forces again to focus on the importance of reading and to promote literacy in our region by bringing the One Book, One Campus, One Community Read Project back to Paducah.

According to the Library of Congress, "One Book" projects (community-wide reading programs) were first initiated by the Washington Center for the Book in 1998. The project encourages the city and college community to read the same book and come together to discuss it in a variety of settings
According to the National Center for Family Literacy, more than 30 million Americans have reading skills below basic literacy levels.These statistics have been the motivating factor for community reads around the country, including Paducah. The One Book, One Campus, One Community Read started in Paducah six years ago with Homer Hickam’s Rocket Boys. Two years later, campus and community members read Wish You Well by David Baldacci. Now in 2013 Half Broke Horses has been chosen as the One Book read.

The One Book activities take place for a full year. The featured event of the read is the selected author's visit to Paducah. A successful community read requires community involvement. So, West Kentucky Community and Technical College, McCracken County Public Library, McNet Library Network, Paducah Independent Schools, and McCracken County Public Schools have been planning for months for the third read in our community.