Launch of Countywide Community Read

Hosted by The Columbia County Libraries Association

The Columbia County Libraries Association is organizing a countywide community read, to begin the week of September 18, which will encourage people throughout the county to read a common book and come together for discussions and programs around the themes presented in the book. We have chosen as our first book The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, by William Kamkwamba, a true story of a young boy who helped a village in Malawi facing extreme drought by constructing a windmill to generate electricity and pump water after seeing an example in a book in his local library. He taught himself the science and engineering behind the device and made his first windmill with spare parts scavenged from his neighborhood. We chose this book for many reasons.

There are several editions of this book, ranging from a picture book for young children to a book for young adults and adults, so there is a book appropriate for every reading level. It is also now a Netflix film. This book will allow us to engage all ages in this project. The book’s themes also resonate with current concerns and the missions of our libraries. It is a story of ingenuity, of the importance of education and the role of libraries in providing resources to all, no matter their economic means, and a story of what we are doing to our shared planet and of how individuals can make a difference.

We will be holding related programs during our 2-month community read, including film screenings, a program with the Alliance for Clean Energy NY, programs for children to learn about wind power and make their own windmills, and book discussion groups.

During this first week, we are currently holding:

• Story Walks for kids planned at the Germantown Library and the Roeliff Jansen Community Library

• a program for children to build windmills at the Chatham Public Library on September 18

• a book discussion at the Roe Jan Library on September 21

• a Climate Discussion at the Kinderhook Memorial Library on September 21

• a program for children to build windmills at the Claverack Free Library on September 23

• a film screening of the documentary William and the Windmill scheduled at the Roe Jan Library on September 23.

There are also continuing programs through October and into early November. Learn more at columbiacountylibraries.org.