DAC Brown Bag Book Discussion

The Mizzou Reads book selection for summer 2011 is Zeitoun, by Dave Eggers.  A Brown Bag discussion about this book will be held on August 10, 12-1pm in 4F51-A Ellis Library for any interested library staff.  The discussion will be moderated by a facilitator from Student Life, with a focus on diversity issues.

Mizzou Reads is a program sponsored by Student Life at Mizzou.  All incoming freshmen are asked to read the same book before they arrive on campus for fall semester.  Students participate in small group discussions about the book during Fall Welcome on August 18.  The discussions are a way to foster community among the new students.

This program is now in its 8^th year and Student Life considers it a success.  For more information on this program, visit http://bit.ly/pLP7Np.

While staff do not generally participate in the Mizzou Reads program, the MU Libraries Diversity Action Committee thought that this book would provide a good discussion for interested library staff, especially on the topic of diversity issues.

Zeitoun was published in 2009 and tells the story of a Syrian-American man and his family living in New Orleans, Louisiana.  The events take place before, during, and in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  Here is a link to the book on WorldCat: http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/332257182.  The book is also discounted at the MU Bookstore.

Attendance to the book discussion is voluntary and open to all library employees, per supervisor approval.  Bring your lunch.  RSVPs are requested for head count purposes only.

DAC also intends to do a book discussion for the Columbia One Read book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot.  This will be held in September at the same time as other area One Read events.  For more information about this program, visit http://oneread.dbrl.org/.