Q & A

Mission Statement

One Book One Island is a collaborative project of community partners and sponsors on Nantucket which seeks to promote reading, literacy and community by encouraging the entire population of Nantucket to read, discuss, and reflect on the same book. In addition, the project is designed to foster the importance of life-long learning for children and adults and to provide multiple opportunities for cultural enrichment in the community.

One Book One Island will be organized as a program for the Island’s 2008 winter season and is being spear-headed by several of the Island’s major nonprofit organizations. It has the additional purpose of increasing a sense of community in Nantucket’s growing year-round population. Thus the project’s related events will be designed to encourage long-time residents and recent newcomers of all ages to feel at ease in sharing personal experiences, diverse backgrounds, cultures, and traditions.

The multi-week project will also provide participants with ways to celebrate the Island’s richness. To achieve this objective, the book-related activities will include discussion groups, lectures, films, theatre, music, dance, art, and culinary events for children and adults throughout the community.

Q&A

What is One Book, One Island?

In 2005 representatives from several of Nantucket’s nonprofits formulated a plan to create a reading program that the whole island can participate in. The group’s goal was to bring Nantucketers together to cultivate the joy of reading a good book and to foster a sense of community. From those conversations came the One Book, One Island program.

What Books Have You Read So Far?

We launched in 2007 with the books “The Kite Runner,”” The Breadwinner” and “The Librarian of Basra.”

In our second year we chose “The Old Man And The Sea,” “The Young Man and The Sea,” and “Island Boy.”

Who Can I Contact For More Information?

If you would like more information or would like to become involved with One Book, One Island, Please contact one of the following people: Molly Anderson, Nantucket Atheneum at 508-228-1110; Jean Grimmer, Egan Maritime Foundation at 508-228-2505; or Jim Lentowski at the Nantucket Conservation Foundation at 508-228-2884.