County-wide initiative encourages reading

Fayette County Public Library announces its inaugural “Fayette On The Page: One Book, One Community” initiative, commencing immediately with Mitch Albom’s 1997 bestseller, “Tuesdays With Morrie.” Fayette On The Page is a county-wide reading and discussion event that encourages all Fayette County residents to read the same book at the same time, and then participate in related cultural, educational and recreational activities.

“Our goal for this program is to bring the county together through the experience of reading and talking about a single book,” said Chris Snell, director of the Fayette County Public Library. “A committee of librarians went through a months-long process of reading and talking about a long list of books, and then a short list, to select ‘Tuesdays With Morrie’ as the one book to get everybody in Fayette County reading this year.”

“Tuesdays With Morrie” was a hit when it was first published in 1997 and stayed on the New York Times bestseller list for the next four years. The book tells the story of author Mitch Albom’s re-connection with the professor who had befriended and mentored him in his college years. When Mitch caught up with Morrie Schwartz after years of being out of touch, he found that Morrie was dying of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Mitch visited Morrie in his study every Tuesday, just as they used to back in college. Their rekindled relationship turned into one final “class”: lessons in how to live. Mitch wrote the book to share Morrie’s final gift with the world.

The Barnes & Noble book store in Fayetteville is partnering with the Fayette County Public Library and the Friends of the Fayette County Public Library to offer a 20 percent discount on copies of “Tuesdays With Morrie” purchased in the Fayetteville store. To receive the discount, customers must simply mention to the cashier that they are participating in “Fayette On The Page: One Book, One Community.”

Copies of “Tuesdays With Morrie” are also available for checkout to PINES library card holders at the Fayette County Public Library. Any Georgia resident who does not already have a PINES card can receive one on the spot by showing proof of current address and filling out a brief application.

The county-wide reading celebration will wrap up in early summer with a free public event at the library that will include a discussion of the themes explored in the book, as well as food and live entertainment.

The Fayette County Public Library is located behind the Fayette County administration complex in downtown Fayetteville, at the southwest corner of Ga. highways 85 and 54. For additional information about “Fayette On The Page: One Book, One Community,” please contact the library at 770-461-8841 or visit online at www.fayettecountyga.gov/public_library.

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