This month, the library kicked of its “Methuen Reads, 2008” campaign. The idea is to have everyone in our city read the same book and talk about the ideas, themes, characters and story they find in it. The project sponsored by the Nevins Library, the Friends of the Library, and funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum & Library Services.

The book they are sponsoring is Digging to America by noted author, Anne Tyler. This novel is an engaging story of two families that meet at the airport on the night they both pick up their new baby daughters being adopted from Korea. The book explores themes of what it means to belong to something, whether it is a family, a community, or a country. Cultural differences are explored, family issues are examined, and the idea of what it truly means to be an American is a central question.

The Nevins Library will sponsor a series of events and programs centering on the themes in Digging to America. They will be exploring Asian culture, featuring a program on adoption resources, hosting a speaker on Middle Eastern culture, and sponsoring a U.S. Citizenship Swearing-In Ceremony. The library will also be hosting several book discussion sessions, a couple of author visits, and of course, they will have copies of the book available for people to read.