LIBRARY COMMUNITY READING PROGRAM

For the fifth successive year The Emily Williston Memorial Library is sponsoring its community reading program, "On the Same Page: Easthampton."

The program is scheduled to begin on April 7th, 2008.

The book for this year's program is Timothy's Egan's The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl.

On April 14, 1935, forevermore known as “Black Sunday”, huge swaths of five states were paralyzed by the biggest dust storm ever recorded. In this powerfully written account, Timothy Egan focuses on that terrible day as he outlines the compelling history of the pioneers who first settled the region. Egan describes the reckless tearing up of the sod and the ensuing over-planting of the grasslands during the boom times of World War I and the 1920s. Much of the book is concerned with the human consequences of farming policies that were ill-suited to the environment. Egan draws heavily upon accounts from the survivors of the eight-year drought and the fearsome and terrible dust storms that were the result. These accounts show the courage of ordinary people in the face of environmental devastation.

As in past years, multiple copies of the book will be made available, not only through the library, but also through cooperating institutions and businesses, including the Lathrop Community Retirement Home, the Easthampton Savings Bank, and Easthampton City Hall.

Activities in conjunction with the topic of the book will be scheduled and announced at a later date. These will include lectures, community book discussions, musical performances, and a showing of the 1936 film "The Plough that Broke the Plains".

Previous selections for the community's On the Same Page program have included:

• Timothy O'Brien's The Things they Carried
• Homer Hickam's Rocket Boys
• Michael C. White's The Garden of Martyrs
• Alfred Lansing's Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage

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Music Night Thursday May 15 6:30 PM @ The Emily Williston Memorial Library 9 Park Street Mike & Ruthy of the Mamals performing the music of Woody Guthrie. Free with snacks provided.

Book Discussion Group Monday May 19 6:30 PM @ the Lathrop Community room Bassett Brook Drive.

Book Discussion Group Wednesday May 21 6:30 PM @ the Emily Williston Memorial Library 9 Park Street.