UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Readers from across the Penn State community are invited to submit book nominations for the 2018-19 Penn State Reads program.
The program, launched in 2013, runs complementary to Penn State’s New Student Orientation and supplies each first-year University Park campus student with a copy of the chosen book to facilitate a shared experience.
Penn State Reads aims to encourage intellectual engagement within and beyond the classroom, stimulate critical thinking, and foster a deeper connection to Penn State’s mission and core values. Concepts are introduced to incoming students at New Student Orientation during the summer, and events based on the book’s themes, including a visit by the author, are planned throughout the school year. All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to read the book and participate in the events.
Book nominations for the 2018-19 school year can be sent to pennstatereads@psu.edu. Anyone is welcome to make a submission.
After nominations are received, the Penn State Reads steering committee will narrow the submissions to a short list and then send out a call for volunteer readers to narrow the list to a final book. Anyone who would like to be a reader can volunteer by emailing pennstatereads@psu.edu or by including a note when submitting book nominations.
The Penn State Reads program is currently in its fourth year, with “The Circle” by Dave Eggers serving as the 2016-17 common text. “It’s What I Do” by Lynsey Addario was chosen for the 2017-18 incoming class.
Penn State Reads is run jointly by Penn State Student Affairs and Penn State Undergraduate Education.