We helped organize and publicize
the "One Book, One Community"
project, bringing together people from seven towns near
Sturbridge for book discussions, a concert by singer
and songwriter Gordon Bok, a storytelling evening with
local celebrities, and a meeting with Linda Greenlaw,
the author of the "one" book, The Lobster
Chronicles.
Near the beginning of the project,
we wooed Linda Greenlaw with a special handmade card,
then we authored and designed a website
to help the library director, Ellie Chesebrough, sell
the project to her board. Later, we also authored and
designed the whimsical
public website.
We wrote press releases and created
the following promotions to get people interested in
the project :
lobster trap gift boxes
aprons
2 clams off coupon
lobster door hangers
discussion tackle box
posters
buttons
invitations
brochures
large A-frame sign
We prepared display kits for library
personnel and friends to make it easy for them to take
the materials and put them at local ATM machines or
wherever people have to stand and wait.
Just for fun, we also instituted
a Fishy
Puns contest and created a limited edition fan-fold
calendar as a gift for Linda Greenlaw.
For the public website, we created
a Flash
animation of a curious lobster hitching a ride on
a buoy, and a discussion guide to help open up conversation
about the book.
We wrote most of the copy for the
discussion guide, which includes information about the
book, the author, and events for "One Book, One
Community." Designed to be a resource for teachers
and students as well as for the reading public, it also
includes information and links to the history of Maine
and to the art and science of lobster fishing.
We are providing the discussion
leader for six of the book discussions.
In the libraries of each of the
seven towns, we installed a display with fishing net
donated by Captain Mike, shiny red lobsters with "I'm
reading Linda Greenlaw" buttons attached. People
who sign out The Lobster Chronicles get a lobster
and button to take home with them.
