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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAYOR
BATES AND BERKELEY PUBLIC LIBRARY DIRECTOR TO DISTRIBUTE FREE BOOKS TO
SENIOR CENTERS AND LOCAL RESIDENTS Berkeley
Reads Together: Community Stories
kick-off event at the West Berkeley Senior Center October 19, 2005 with
distribution of free copies of House on Mango Street to Berkeley
seniors and local residents. Berkeley, CA – On October 19,
2005 at 11:30 a.m. Mayor Tom Bates and Berkeley Public Library Director
Jackie Griffin will launch Berkeley Reads Together: Community Stories with
the distribution of hundreds of free books to South and West Berkeley
residents. Berkeley Reads
Together is a wonderful opportunity to build community and promote literacy throughout the City
by encouraging all Berkeleyans to read the same book at the same time and
then discuss it with their families, friends and neighbors. This
year Mayor Bates and the Berkeley Public Library have selected The House
on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros. Consisting
of 44 short stories, The House on Mango Street is a powerful book
told by a young girl named Esperanza Cordero. Each chapter tells a
gripping story about the girl's childhood on Mango Street. The story takes
place in a poor, Latino neighborhood in Chicago. Esperanza dreams of the
house she will someday have, her own house, not on Mango Street.
In addition to The House on Mango Street, the
campaign will promote other books of short stories centered on community. Free
copies of The House on Mango Street will be available
at the City of Berkeley Senior Centers and all Berkeley Public Library
branches. Thanks to the
generosity of the Friends of the Library, and as part of Project BUILD
(Berkeley United in Literacy Development), we are able to expand
distribution into South and West Berkeley with a limited number of free
copies of Mango Street distributed at child care and seniors
centers. “Over the summer months I worked
with the library and community partners to promote literacy among our
youth. Now with Berkeley
Reads Together: Community Stories we can continue to promote literacy
citywide and build strong community of readers, both young and old
alike”, said Mayor Tom Bates. “Berkeley
Public Library has a commitment to literacy for all-and a commitment to
help everyone discover the enjoyment of reading”, said Jackie Griffin,
executive director of the Berkeley Public Library.
“The House on Mango Street is a collection of stories
about living in and being part of a community.
Telling and listening to stories is a great way to help us all
build a sense of community. This
autumn please join your friends and family, your neighbors, and people who
live in other neighborhoods in Berkeley as we all read and talk about
Sandra Cisneros’ wonderful, prize-winning stories. “ # # # |
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Please
note: If you are unable to access information on this website, please
contact the Mayor's Office. City of Berkeley Home / Departments / Mayor Home
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