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Community Corner

Larchmont and Mamaroneck Public Libraries Announce "ONE BOOK - ONE MAMARONECK" as the First Ever Community Read

LARCHMONT/MAMARONECK, NY - The public libraries in Larchmont and Mamaroneck are pleased to announce “ONE BOOK – ONE MAMARONECK”, the first-ever community read scheduled for this October involving both libraries simultaneously. The libraries will be spearheading community-wide events aimed at bringing residents into a common dialogue that is at once thought-provoking and enlightening and that educates.

To accomplish this, Susan Riley, Director of the Mamaroneck Public Library has selected I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, by Malala Yousafzi (Little, Brown: 2013), as the book to read. “I Am Malala is one of the most moving and powerful books I’ve ever read,” said Ms. Riley. “It is simply riveting and it touched me on so many different levels that I knew it would be the right book to serve as the centerpiece for ONE BOOK – ONE MAMARONECK. It has the power to unite people around a common cause making it the perfect book for our first community read.” 

When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one young girl chose to speak out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education. On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, at the age of fifteen, she nearly paid the ultimate price when she was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school. Few expected her to survive.

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Instead, Malala’s miraculous recovery has taken her on an extraordinary journey from the remote hill country of northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations in New York. At sixteen, she has become a global symbol of peaceful protest and is the youngest nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize in history. I Am Malala is the remarkable story of a family uprooted by global terrorism, of the fight for girls’ education, of a father who – himself a school owner – championed and encouraged his daughter to write and attend school, and of brave parents who have a fierce love for their daughter in a society that prizes sons. Copies of the book are available now in each library.

The libraries are encouraging the Larchmont and Mamaroneck communities to unite through the powerful story told by Malala Yousafzai and host a ONE BOOK – ONE MAMARONECK event in October. Events can be coordinated by individuals in the community or by local businesses and organizations. Events can range from discussions, lectures, panels or presentations focusing on one of the many themes in the book including empowering women, courage and bravery, peaceful resistance, international politics, rising above repression, the power of education, inspiring youth, activism, and the role of fear in oppression. Both libraries will be hosting programs based on the book as well and will highlight events scheduled in the community to aid with their promotion.

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“We’re encouraging everyone to be a part of ONE BOOK – ONE MAMARONECK and either host an event or get involved in one based on I Am Malala,” said Laura Eckley, Director of the Larchmont Public Library. “We have a unique opportunity to bring our communities together to be a part of something that is in and of itself unique. Each library will be scheduling events based on themes from the book for October and it is our hope that organizations and individuals in both Larchmont and Mamaroneck will do likewise”.

Because ONE BOOK – ONE MAMARONECK is a cohesive month-long series, the library Directors request that any organization or individual desiring to host an event, register the event with their respective public library. This way the libraries can make sure that each event is promoted as part of the overall ONE BOOK – ONE MAMARONECK promotional campaign.

To host an event or if you have questions, contact Larchmont Public Library Director, Laura Eckley, at 914-834-1977 or email leckley@wlsmail.org, or Mamaroneck Public Library Director, Susan Riley, at 914-698-1250 or email sriley@wlsmail.org. The deadline for registering an event is Friday, August 15, and event details are due to be provided to the library by Wednesday, August 20.

“Malala Yousafzai’s story has the power to change lives for the better,” said Susan Riley. “This book reaches far beyond those who live in Pakistan and can have a positive effect on the lives of residents of Mamaroneck and in Larchmont.” Laura Eckley continues, “With ONE BOOK – ONE MAMARONECK we’re celebrating the best of the human spirit and we want to encourage everyone to get involved. By doing so, we expect to enrich the lives of those right here.”





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