About Peoria Reads!

Peoria Reads! is modeled after 'one city, one book' projects first launched by the Library of Congress Center for the Book in 1998. In cities around the nation, a coalition of organizations promote the reading of the same, significant book at the same time by their residents of high school age through senior citizens. Readers then participate in events such as book discussion groups, appearances by the author and other special events. For a glimpse at other cities' reading projects and books chosen, visit the Library of Congress web site at http://www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/onebook/.

Common Place and the Peoria Public Library are the lead partners in Peoria Reads! with dynamic involvement from many other Community Partners. Books are chosen and events are planned each year by members of the coalition which meets throughout the year at Common Place. Common Place serves as the fiscal agent for Peoria Reads!

Since 2007, the Peoria Reads! program has been privileged to receive funding from the National Endowment for the Arts to be a part of The Big Read, an initiative designed to revitalize the role of literary reading for pleasure among American adults.  For more information about The Big Read, visit www.neabigread.org.

Peoria Reads! Selections:

2002: A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines.
2003: The Reappearance of Sam Webber by Jonathon Scott Fuqua
2004: Speed of Light by Elizabeth Rosner
2005: Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde
2006: Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich
2007: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
2008: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
2009: The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
2010: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald