The Lobster Chronicles

The book selected for the community-wide read is The Lobster Chronicles by Linda Greenlaw. It is about a daughter's relationship with her mother, her father, her family, the small community of Isle au Haut, hard work, ingenuity, and finding oneself when at a crossroads. [Cover of the book Lobster Chronilces]

about the author...

Enter your library card number below to access the Library's subscription databases. Look for Gale Group Informal then navigate to The Biography Resource Center. It's worth the hassle for good, high quality information!

Target Audience

The target audience for this project is anyone over the age of 15 in the greater Strubridge area. This includes Sturbridge, Southbridge, Charlton, Brookfield, Brimfield, Holland, and Wales. The combined population is over 36,000 people over the age of 14.

Four specific audiences within the target group were identified and discussed.

Intergenerational
Teenagers
The Under-Served
Book Lovers who don't use the library

Intergenerational

In particular, Retired and Older Individuals who have a lot to share could be brought together with Teenagers (who are still exploring life's possibilities and could have their horizons expanded). Programs and activities focusing on memoirs, "how-to's" and sharing of life experiences will be planned around the themes of the book Lobster Chronicles: Life on a Very Small Island by Linda Greenlaw.

Teenagers

Teenagers may be more comfortable in a single sex environment or on the Internet in order to speak freely about the themes in the book. Music and celebrity readers would appeal to teenagers. Teens are generally empathetic to the world around them and will serve and help others.

Teenagers may like to develop PR materials, hats, posters, and so forth.

The Under-Served

Language barriers and time constraints are impediments for recently arrived, non-English speaking immigrants. Also, they may require more encouragement to participate because "Free" library services are unfamiliar to them. They would like to have resources in their native language and library staff may struggle with ESL instructors over encouraging participation in programs conducted in a non-English tongue.

Music, once again, was brought up as a means to bridge the language barrier.

The Book-Buying, Non-Library Using Public

The book buying, non-library using public likes the signage, lighting, and vibrancy of book stores. She attends her monthly book discussion group which often revolves around books, food, good wine, and discussions about personal issues. Or he reads books for inforamtion or recreation and relaxation but his wife picks up books for him at the library or he buys books at airport book shops and to or from work.

The book buying public will read and discuss the book, but probably not at the library--though she might come to the library or Old Sturbridge Village to meet Linda Greenlaw!

[One Book. One Community.]