Great Books 2009

I attended Great Books, sponsored by EPFL, BCPL and others, for the first time March 31st. This was the 25th and - I learned at the opening session - last annual Great Books conference.

Great Books is predicated on a book discussion group format. There are no presenters, only facilitators. There are three hour long groups for each participant, one each for picture books, Juvenile literature (my session happened to be all fiction, but non-fiction is eligible, too) and one for YA.

After the discussion groups our closing speaker was Jacqueline Woodson, funny, insightful, real and humble. She tied together her writings, her childhood and her experiences as a mother, a writer and a human being in a way that makes me want to jump right into her backlist.

The thing that surprised me the most about the book discussion sessions, and pleased me, was the openness and non-judgemental atmosphere present while people also expressed how the really felt about the books. There was no checklist for participation, no single member dominating the discussion but a remarkable congruity of opinion (at least in the groups where I was present).

All of the organisers were library staff from EPFL, BCPL, Howard, Harford or Anne Arundel counties - central Maryland. And most of the attendees were from those counties, too. The suggestion was that other counties/locations should take the Great Books model and run with it.
I agree, and would suggest a half-day format with only one type of literature to discuss. In other words, a half-day on Picture books, another on YA, etc.

Personally, my cup is overflowing right now. Who wants to pick up the sceptre?
Jan