It’s the first time a book of poetry has been chosen for the Oak Park Public Library’s annual summer reading program, and librarians believe its themes will resonate with Oak Parkers.
The 2018 One Book, One Oak Park selection is “A People’s History of Chicago,” by Kevin Coval. Poet and community builder Coval, raised in the suburbs of Chicago and founder of youth poetry festival Louder Than a Bomb, compiled 77 poems, for the 77 neighborhoods of Chicago, sharing the stories of everyday and famous Chicagoans.
After he received a copy of the book for Christmas and enjoyed it, Jim Madigan, the library’s deputy director, said he was struck by how often conversation topics would remind him of poems he’d read in the book.
“If this is happening to me,” he thought, “I bet many more people could have this experience.”
Madigan then suggested the book during the library’s committee meeting on selection of this summer’s book. One Book, One Oak Park, started in 2014, intends to get the community reading and talking about the same title. The library stocks a large number of copies of the chosen book, and organizes book discussions and other related events.
“It had so much content that I felt like I had to choose it,” said Margita Lidaka, an adult and teen services librarian who coordinates the annual program.
Since he’s a Chicago resident, the ability to have Coval appear at the library was “one of the attractive things,” Madigan added. Coval will do a Q&A and a performance piece June 27 at the main library.
Coval’s narrative style of poetry is approachable for readers, and the collection covers a wide range of Chicago history, up to the Chicago Cubs’ World Series win in 2016.
“I felt like I kept setting it down in a good way,” Lidaka said, adding that she was often inspired to do further research on people and events Coval referenced. “I always like a piece that leads you to learn more.”
The topics in the book — race, politics, art, music and more — spoke to Lidaka. The format of the book, too, should be a point of interest, as poetry can be intimidating to many readers.
“[Coval’s style] ends up making the poetry more accessible,” she said.
Madigan expects the themes of justice and equity to hit home with Oak Parkers, especially the celebration of and historical background on civil rights and equal rights for the gay and lesbian community in Chicago.
“I think both of these will resonate with Oak Park’s history,” he said.
Another aspect Oak Parkers will appreciate: the poems that celebrate the contributions artists and musicians have made to popular culture, he said.
Many people will read the best-seller on their own, Lidaka said, but the library’s mission “is getting you to engage with something you might not read … to engage with it and expand your mind.”
Madigan mentioned spoken word groups have already expressed interest in the book, and Coval’s affiliations resonate with a younger audience.
“That’s an audience that we want to engage here in Oak Park,” Madigan added.
For more information and a list of events, visit www.oppl.org/library-led-events/authors-books/one-book-one-oak-park.
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