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Our Community Reads

from the Friends of the Aptos Library


Our Community Reads is a program designed
to bring members of the Santa Cruz County community
together around one book.


We are currently in the process
of reading and selecting books
for the 2024 Season of Our Community Reads.


If you have book suggestions,
and/or wish to be included in
the voting event this coming Fall
be sure to let us know!


The winning book for the 2023 Season of OCR

Mary Coin by Marisa Silver



Click here for a description of events of the 2023 Season.


Review our 2023 season

Review our 2022 season


Review our 2021 season


Review our 2020 season

Review our 2019 season

Review our 2018 season



“… critically acclaimed author Marisa Silver takes Dorothea Lange's Migrant Mother photograph as inspiration for a breathtaking reinvention — a story of two women, one famous and one forgotten, and of the remarkable legacy of their chance encounter.”



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Click on the book cover to find out more !

Donate: click here to support Our Community Reads and keep it vibrant in the future!
We are a 501 (c) 3 non-profit, all donations are tax deductible (Tax ID: #94-2612557)

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Here below are a few images of events of the 2023 Season of Our Community Reads
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Author Talk: Marisa Silver on the screen. Moderator Geneffa Jonker and attendees at the Capitola Library.
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A group of some of our presenters. Judy Jaeger, Bob Reid, Julie Olsen Edwards, Kevin Painchaud, Topsy Smalley, June Langhoff, Jerry Kay, Sharon Ferguson, Geneffa Jonker
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Artists Sharon Ferguson and Jo-Neal Graves leading an art workshop: extended drawings using photos of the Dust Bowl.

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Farm to Table Panel: Dr. Ann López, Dick Peixoto and Peter Shapiro with moderator Dr. Alicia Bencomo García.
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Topsy Smalley presenting the film Grapes of Wrath.
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Aptos High School students art work at the MAH.

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Aptos High School students (ages 14-18) undertook a class assignment to redesign the book cover for Mary Coin.
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Documentary "Dorothea Lange, An American Odyssey" at the Felton Library Community Room.
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Following the documentary, Alison Steele and Patti Maxine played songs of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression.

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Dixie Dixon offered a personal reminiscence into the life of Dorothea Lange.
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Voting event in September 2022 to select the book for the 2023 Season.



We are currently in the process of reading and selecting books for the 2024 Season of Our Community Reads.

If you have book suggestions, and/or wish to be included in the voting event this coming Fall be sure to
let us know!

Contact us by e-mail at [email protected]

Donate: click here to support Our Community Reads!
We are a 501 (c) 3 non-profit, all donations are tax deductible.  (Tax ID: #94-2612557).

Visit our Facebook page! 
Our Community Reads

"It is so important to support literacy and critical thinking, 
especially in these current times.  Thank you all for your hard, important work.
"
Jerry Solomon, Ph.D., Panelist, HIV/AIDS in the 80's

"This was a great series of events that really showed how reading is not a static, solitary thing but a rich, engaging, exploration that opens eyes and minds and ears. The dialogue and discussion were the best part."
Stephen Palumbi, Co-author, Death & Life of Monterey Bay.

"I am honored to have been a part of the Our Communities Read program!
What a fantastic model, to use books to bring people together and take meaningful action. In the case of our book, action towards the collective goal of protecting the places we love."

Carolyn Sotka, Co-author, Death & Life of Monterey Bay.

  • Home
  • New Aptos Library
  • Book Sales
  • Art at the Aptos Library
  • Our Community Reads
  • About Us
  • Our Projects
  • Partners & Connections
  • Contact Us