RESOLUTION NO. 240332
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Sponsor: Councilmember Melissa Robinson
RESOLUTION - Directing the City Manager to establish a “One City, One Book: Kansas City Reads” program (“Program”) to encourage Kansas Citians to read one book at the same time to promote literacy and create a sense of community; and report back to Council in 90 days.
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WHEREAS, reading benefits people in several ways, including by:
• Reducing stress and helping one relax;
• Improving concentration and memory;
• Expanding vocabulary expansion and strengthening one’s writing abilities;
• Enhancing knowledge; and
• Increasing one’s imagination and creativity; and
WHEREAS, community reading programs are designed to build a sense of community, promote literacy, and provide support for essential reading skills while developing empathy and camaraderie among residents; and
WHEREAS, by building bridges between communities and generations through the reading and, most importantly, the discussion of one book, the City hopes to help to make reading a lifelong pursuit and to build a more literate society; and
WHEREAS, a community reading program must be focused on literature and should not be designed to cure social ills or promote groupthink; and
WHEREAS, several communities have established similar programs which are tracked by The Center for the Book at the Library of Congress and list all selected book titles; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. That the City Manager is directed to establish a “One City, One Book: Kansas City Reads” program to encourage Kansas Citians to read one book at the same time to later discuss the book in book groups and at various events throughout the City.
Section 2. That the City Manager shall seek sponsors for the Program from the Kansas City Public Library, Friends of the Kansas City Public Library, other library systems, cultural organizations, bookstore partners, other program partners and media sponsors.
Section 3. That the City Manager shall ensure that there be a dedicated Program website and shall, with a public library, submit the Program to the Library of Congress for tracking with their Center for the Book program.
Section 4. That the City Manager shall ensure that the book selection and book discussion process of the Program remain independent from City and that no City dollars be used for book purchases.
Section 5. That the City Manager is hereby directed to report the progress of the Program within ninety (90) days of the passage of this resolution.
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