In 2001, Chicago Public Library (CPL) launched the program “One Book, One Chicago.” In the 19 years since, it has developed into a comprehensive program that aims to include and motivate everyone in Chicago to read and participate.
One Book, One Chicago originally started small, reading two books a year without many other activities or events. Since then, the program has included over 25 books and expanded to include more materials surrounding the seasons theme. Past books have been Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and The Third Coast by Thomas Dyja.
“In 2013, we changed the program to be a season-long experience that revolves around a larger theme drawn from the book,” said Jennifer Lizak, coordinator of special projects for CPL. “This has been very successful and allowed us to bring in even more participants with a longer time frame to read the book, as well as many different events and ways they can participate in the program.”
Book selection for the program is a lengthy process, carefully chosen in order to create a program around the theme. The program includes events, information for the website and discussion questions.
“The selection of the title is a process that begins months and years in advance. Suggestions are accepted on a rolling basis from members of the public, partner organizations, library staff – really anyone and everyone,” said Lizak. “Those suggestions are then evaluated for quality, accessibility, availability and theme, and a short list relating to a chosen theme is then put together. A small group of people read the books and offer feedback, and then the final choice is made.”
The books tend to be focused more toward adults, but the libraries also offer reading lists and other materials to stimulate conversation with patrons of all ages. The program is advertised in all CPL branches as well as online.
“I was working downtown, and on my lunch break I would go to the [Harold Washington] library. They had a big display of [Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?], advertising it with a bunch of little papers and signs about the events so I just picked it up,” said Danielle Jacques of Lakeview.
The program events are carefully chosen to enhance the season’s theme and peak community interest. They are also held at a variety of locations throughout the city increasing accessibility for community members who would like to participate all throughout the city.
“We aim to offer something for everyone, no matter your particular interest as a way to draw you in to engaging with the theme and book,” said Lizak. “This means we often have a wide variety of events to appeal to different people, from film screenings to art workshops, author talks to walking tours, hands on workshops to game nights.”
Events are offered all throughout the season and draw in a variety of participants. Game nights surrounding the theme of the book were started in the 2017-18 season.
“As games provide conduit for conversations, a means for strangers to come together through shared learning experiences and generally help build multiple literacies, we felt that they were an excellent fit for One Book, One Chicago,” said Jason Nosek, Games Team co-chair for CPL. “The Games Team selects games that fit the theme and message of the One Book, One Chicago selection, and creates events that will bring folks together to enjoy themselves and discuss the topic at hand, be it directly or indirectly.”
As this season’s book is The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert, about the changing climate and extinction, the games revolve around the broad idea of climate. The games for this season included Evolution: Climate, in which players develop different species in an evolving ecosystem, as well as Planet, where players build a planet with different cards they receive. Participants come from all over the city to participate in the library’s game nights.
Johnvan Darby (left) and Natalia Kukula (right) carefully consider their cards in this game of strategy. Photo by Hannah Boardman 
Juan Ramirez is the last to move his piece from the starting point as other players look on. Photo by Hannah Boardman 
Evolution: Climate is one of the games participants play. The objection is to evolve your animals to withstand climate change and other species. Photo by Hannah Boardman 
“I love gaming and I love this library, it’s very close to work, so everything just panned out,” said Twan Heller, who played Parksat Harold Washington Library’s game night.
The program regularly draws in many participants, some of which are returners from past One Book, One Chicago programs.
“When I went back to the library and saw the new book, I was like ‘oh I want to do this again because I liked the last one,’” said Jacques.
Since the change in 2013, the program has allowed community members to interact with the program in a variety of different ways, making it very successful.
“We generally have around 40,000 people who participate in some way, whether that’s reading the book, attending an event, participating in an online discussion, etc,” said Lizak. “It is the largest and widest reaching adult program of Chicago Public Library.
Hannah Boardman 