Monterey County Free Libraries join One Book, One Coast with George Takei’s memoir

Bea Stegno of Monterey County Free Libraries said the system joined the regional "One Book, One Coast" reading program, selecting They Called Us Enemy by George Takei as the shared title and mounting local programming tied to Japanese American history.

Stegno said the library will partner with the Japanese American Citizens League for two presentations: May 9 at the Seaside Branch (a program on the Japanese American presence on the Monterey Peninsula) and May 30 at the Marina Branch (a movie and program on post–World War II experiences). "We are having a program on Saturday, May 9... at the Seaside Branch Library," she said, and noted the JACL is celebrating 100 years of its meeting house in Monterey.

The libraries will offer online access to the title via Libby (OverDrive) and Comics Plus with simultaneous-use ebooks and run a book discussion at the Seaside Branch on May 12. Stegno said the library provides book-club kits (10 books plus discussion guides) to help local book groups and will host children's programs and origami events in support of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

"The book is great because it is so accessible and easy to read, and it's very thought provoking and emotion provoking because it's told from the perspective of a child living in the camps," Stegno said. She encouraged residents to visit their branch to check out materials and join discussions.