Take root among the stars!

From https://clockshop.org/project/about-octavia-e-butler/

Welcome to University City Public Library's Big Book Challenge--the Earthseed path! In case you were wondering, "Earthseed" is the series title for Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower (which we'll read and discuss in June) and Parable of the Talents (which we'll read and discuss in July). Since we are taking our summer reading challenge completely online this year, you'll want to stay tuned to this blog for updates on our program and juicy tidbits about our books and authors.

I want to note a few items at the outset of our challenge. If you look at the very top of this blog, you will see a tab for "Earthseed Reading Guide." There you'll find some introductory material regarding Octavia Butler and this series specifically, as well as other library resources that might help inform your reading.

Add a little fun to your reading this summer! Register yourself on Beanstack, where you will earn badges for your reading accomplishments. Go to ucitylibrary.beanstack.org/--you'll get a badge just for signing up!

We are also excited to welcome our speakers, Dr. Samantha Pergadia in June and Dr. Rebecca Wanzo in July. We want to give you as much opportunity as possible to engage with our speakers in this virtual format, so we will conduct our speaker programs this way:

1) We will both email and post here a link to each speaker's presentation video on the 15th of June and July.

2) Watch the videos at your convenience before the live Q&A events with our speakers at the end of each month and jot down your questions!

3-a) If you can attend the live Q&A events, you will need to register to receive an invitation to a Zoom meeting. You will be able to interact with our presenters and other readers then!

3-b) If you are unable to attend the live Q&A events, you may still ask questions and email them to us so that they will be asked during the event.

4) The live Q&A events will be recorded so that all participants may review it afterwards if they wish.

The live Q&A events will center around each presentation given by our scholars, though your knowledge of that month's book will still be crucial and will inform the conversation. We will have an alternate book discussion in the the afternoon of the Wednesday following the live event, which will focus just on the month's book. Everyone is more than welcome to join both events if they are able!

We are excited to experience the online version of UCPL's Big Book Challenge with you! Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or comments in the coming months.