Online for all: A case study of an online common reading program at a public university

Abstract

Common read programs are a popular way for organizations to bring their community together. Through thoughtful book selection and event design, common read programs can facilitate camaraderie and discussion around a book’s story and themes. This paper describes how the common read program at California State University, Los Angeles shifted from an in-person to a fully online program during the COVID-19 pandemic (academic year 2020–2021). The authors suggest that an online common read program offers unique benefits and can be as engaging as an in-person program when it is informed by the interests and needs of students and other community members. Common reads, book selection, event planning, and lessons learned are examined.

Keywords:

• Common read programs
• library events
• first-year experience
• online learning
• virtual programming
• remote programming

Acknowledgments

Thank you to the other Librarians on the OCOB committee who were essential in planning and delivery of the program, including Jennifer Masunaga (Instruction and Reference Librarian) and Azalea Camacho (Archivist and Special Collections Librarian at Cal State LA). Thank you to Kelsey Brown (Communications Strategist & Event Coordinator) and Jaycen Mitchell (Communications Student Assistant) for the extremely valuable assistance with outreach for the OCOB program, including creating beautiful marketing materials and promoting the program on the library’s social media channels and website. Thank you to other campus stakeholders that have continuously supported the program and have been such strong partners, including Danelle Dyckhoff Stelzriede, Director of First-Year Writing and Assistant Professor of English; Amy Robb, Andres Galindo, and Michael Reyes, Teaching Assistants for English Department’s First-Year Writing Department; Tiffanie Ford-Baxter, Science Librarian, and Sheree Fu, Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology Librarian; Summer Brantner, Program Coordinator for Project Rebound; and Laura Tejada, Assistant Director for the Cross Cultural Centers; Bidhan Roy, Professor of English; and Luis J. Rodriguez for participating in Cal State LA’s first online common read program.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Office of the Provost at California State University Los Angeles; Instructionally Related Activities Grant.