So many Malibu citizens volunteer their time to work on projects to benefit our community and are deserving of thanks and recognition. “One Book, One City-Malibu” is no exception. A tribute to literacy, this program is community-driven with a shared reading experience and common interest at its core. It is worthwhile to note that over 1,000 similar programs have been started in cities around the world concurrent to the time period this program was launched. These “community reads” reflect the desire and interest to enjoy books together. This year’s book selection, “California Poetry: From the Gold Rush to Present” (Gioia, Yost and Hicks), was not only enjoyed by the community, but was enthusiastically supported with community participation and generosity.
The Malibu City Council has provided a small grant to help with some operating costs, while much of the difference comes from contributions from Malibu residents. Once costs are met, additional revenue helps support our library and ESL materials for our Labor Exchange. This year’s indelible response further underlines how much Malibuites and local businesses care about civic participation and local culture.
“O ne Book, One City-Malibu” would not have been successful without the interest of the local newspapers, and the tireless commitment from volunteers like Kathy Sullivan and the Malibu library staff, John Evans and Alison Reid from Diesel Bookstore, Tiffani Lewis, and Joe Di Mercurio.
Alexis Deutsch-Adler