Clara Library in County Offaly was involved in a very successful community reading initiative in February and March 2010. The reading initiative called One Book, One Clara started off with an idea developed by the local Home School Community Liaison officer and Clara Librarian. The recently refurbished Library had just re-opened to the public so involvement in a large community project was very welcome.
The objective of the reading initiative was to get as many people as possible in Clara reading the same book at the same time. A local Committee was formed to progress the project and after months of intensive planning, “Holes” by Louis Sachar was selected as the book for the project and a start date of February 2nd was set.
The project was officially launched in Clara Library by the Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council Cllr. Noel Burke. Storyteller Niall de Burca entertained over 150 people on launch day. 500 copies of the book were made available to the community with sponsorship provided by the Offaly Local Development Company. Children in 5th and 6th class in the Scoil Phrionsias Naofa and Scoil Bhríde , children in 1st, 2nd and Transition year in Ard Scoil Chiaráin Naofa and Clara Youthreach trainees all received a copy of the book. Members from groups in the Clara Family Resource centre including the Active Retirement group and the Women’s group also received copies of the book. Additional copies were made available to the public through Clara Library. Audio copies of the book were also made available with one going to a local resident, Annie Graham on her 100th birthday and another to the Visiting Teacher for Traveller Education. The book was read by people of all ages with at least 2 families having 3 generations reading the book at the same time.
In addition to reading the book, various events were held each week of the project to keep people interested and to get more people reading. Guest speakers Offaly football legend Joe Quinn and Community Garda Adrian Hanley visited the schools and Dr. Arthur Broomfield, a local VEC tutor visited the library during the first week to talk about the book. Other activities included Art, Creative Writing and Drama Workshops funded by Offaly VEC. A weekly coffee morning was held in the Library to discuss the book and has progressed to the formation of the very first Clara Library Book Club. One of these coffee mornings was attended by Irish Open Champion golfer Shane Lowry who is from Clara and was also reading the book. One of the big events of the project was the reopening of the Star Cinema in Clara after many decades for one night only to show the film of “Holes”. This event was attended by over 300 people in the community during the last week of One Book One Clara and was made possible with thanks to Clara Credit Union and Clara GAA.
RTE Radio One’s morning Ireland programme visited Clara to record a piece about One Book One Clara which aired on 22nd February. Listen here.
One Book One Clara was a community funded project and wouldn’t have been possible without its community of supporters: the Offaly Local Development Company, St. Vincent de Paul Education Fund, Steri Pack, School Completion Programme Clara, Clara Family Resource Centre, Clara Credit Union, Clara GAA, Midlands 103, Offaly VEC, Offaly County Council and the Home School Community Liaison Scheme.