City Launches Charleston Reads City-Wide Book Club

Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin today announced a city-wide book club initiative called “Charleston Reads: One City, One Book.” This club is a partnership between the City of Charleston, Kanawha County Public Library, Taylor Books and Charleston resident Margaret McLeod Leef. This monthly club will, initially, be held via ZOOM video conference but will transition to in-person meetings once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

“Shared experiences are important to our Charleston residents. We continue to see that with our drive-in movies, drive-in concert and Fourth of July fireworks,” said Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin. “With COVID-19 cases increasing, we wanted to continue to create those shared experiences in a socially distant way. This book club will bring folks together from every part of our City while staying safe at homes.”

Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly will be the first book club selection for both adults and young adults. Book club meetings will begin Tuesday, August 4 at 6 p.m. and will be moderated by Margaret McLeod Leef and Kanawha County Public Library Director Erika Connelly. Additional programming will be announced at a later date.    

Books can be checked out from the Kanawha County Public Library in-person or online at kanawhalibrary.org. Books can be purchased from Taylor Books in-person or by calling 304-342-1461. Taylor Books will donate 20% of each book purchase to the YWCA Sojourner’s Shelter.