What is the power of one book? Can it do more than enlighten and entertain individual readers? Can it impact the heart and soul of a community, help us to open new lines of communication and lay the groundwork for a stronger and better Forsyth County? We believe that On the Same Page, the Library’s community book reading program, has the potential to do just that. On the Same Page seeks to broaden appreciation of literature through the shared experience of reading and discussing a single work of literature. It offers us a unique opportunity to see things from a different perspective, one that will only expand our understanding of the world around us.
Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin invites you…
Forsyth County Public Library Director Sylvia-Sprinkle Hamlin’s thoughts on this year’s On the Same Page selection, Chris Gardner’s The Pursuit of Happyness.
Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin, Director, Forsyth County Public Library
Please understand I’m not speaking lightly of the obstacles he faced in his struggle toward success. They were considerable. Nor am I diminishing the role his personal strengths played in overcoming those obstacles. Good fortune can only get us so far without the wisdom to recognize an opportunity, the courage to seize it, and the determination to work hard at it. I simply mean that Gardner’s rags-to-riches story is exceptional.
There are many others who are less fortunate; single parents who, despite their best efforts, are unable to provide for their children; veterans who suffer from problems with mental health or substance abuse; men and women working at minimum-wage jobs who are one injury, one disaster away from destitution; whole families that live on the street. People like this come through our doors every day. With them in mind, the Forsyth County Public Library applied for a grant from the State Library of North Carolina to improve our services to people experiencing homelessness and to raise awareness of this issue in our community. We are partnering with a host of local organizations, like Samaritan Ministries, Winston-Salem Rescue Mission, Bethesda Center for the Homeless, and the United Way’s Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness, to do what we can to help.
This fall, I invite you to participate in On the Same Page 2013. We want to use The Pursuit of Happyness as a springboard for discussion. We’ve planned a series of events—film screenings, a poverty simulation, an appearance by Chris Gardner himself, and more—that we hope will enlighten folks and inspire them to action.
Isn’t it exciting to think that you could make a real difference?
Chris Gardner's The Pursuit of Happyness 