Indian River State College's first One Book, One College Initiative was held in Fall 2015. Check out the LibGuide for information on the variety of events and resources that were available to students, faculty, and staff.
During the fall 2015, the IRSC Libraries hosted a six-week One Book, One College initiative with a reading of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The major goals of One Book, One College were to share a reading experience among a diverse group of people, demonstrate how disciplines connect, promote literacy and a lifelong love of reading, encourage college-wide discussion, and inspire creativity. The Learning Resources Department accomplished these goals by selecting a popular yet affordable novel, partnering with IRSC departments and faculty to promote the initiative, and by hosting events and contests to encourage student learning and interaction beyond the classroom. Over the course of six weeks, One Book, One College engaged over 650 students, staff, and community members through in-person and virtual events, distributed 450 print copies of Frankenstein, had 1,400 visits to the One Book, One College LibGuide, and 1,515 students, staff, and community members attended a theatrical production of Frankenstein.
The Main Campus kickoff (audio available to the right) featured a panel discussion of students, faculty members, and administrators that explored the bioethical, philosophical, psychological, historical, technological, and sociological considerations of the novel. These themes were continued in award-winning science fiction author, scientist, and IRSC instructor Dr. Arthur Doweyko’s keynote speeches at the branch campuses, and illustrated that the questions Shelley raised are still worthy of discussion today. Kickoff events also included games, prizes, and a Franken-Selfie booth. A theatrical production of Victor Gialanella’s Frankenstein and various artistic opportunities that included several social media contests offered opportunities for students to interact with the novel, its themes, and one another in a creative manner. Film viewings and discussion sessions on the 1931 Frankenstein on each campus ended the event with a Halloween twist.
The program was promoted through media outlets, in the libraries, throughout all campuses, at library instruction sessions, at the River Shop’s Midnight Madness event, at Week of Welcome events, at faculty events, at department meetings, and at Lifelong Learning Institute orientations. A Library’s collaboration with the Digital Media Department and Professor Walt Hines directly led to the use of B.A.S. student Christian Birkett’s image of Frankenstein’s Creature on the Library’s promotional materials for One Book, One College, and these award-winning promotional materials were distributed throughout the community and college and included posters, buttons, bookmarks, pencils, and eResource cards. 2,500 eResource cards were distributed, and featured numerous ways that one could freely download the content for reading/listening on a mobile device.
IRSC faculty in departments including English/Modern Communications, Adult High School, GED®, Biology, Theater, Interior Design, Digital Media, and Humanities incorporated Frankenstein into their curriculum in unique ways. Some faculty included the reading of the novel or passages from the novel in their courses. Other faculty members created assignments or learning activities related to Frankenstein, like designing a condominium with the creature’s personality and tastes in mind. The inclusion of Frankenstein in IRSC coursework was bolstered by the many enriching events offered on the campuses and online. By participating in One Book, One College events like the panel discussion and branch campus kickoffs, students learned how the novel relates to many disciplines, and began to realize that the themes from a book published in 1818 are still relevant today. In addition, our partnership with the Adult High School, ABE, ESL, and GED® programs allowed the Library to reach at-risk IRSC students. As part of the Just Read, Florida! Reading Initiative, these programs featured reading level appropriate copies of Frankenstein that allowed those students who were learning English as a second language, reluctant readers, and lapsed readers to participate in One Book, One College events. Three additional events were also added to the schedule at the request of the Initiative.
Couldn't make it to our kickoff in person? Listen to the event now: