The One Book 2015 selection is Positive by Paige Rawl. Paige conveys important messages about bullying, HIV, and overcoming obstacles in life. If you have not yet read the book, free copies are still available at the IU East Campus Library.
Fifteen hundred books have been distributed to campus and community participants, and readers are engaging with the content in a variety of ways:
• First year seminar students are discussing “differences” with clients of Independent Living Center, creating a scrapbook called “Paige’s pages,” and designing book covers with original art that reflect the themes in Positive
• Nursing students are connecting book content with community outreach programs and writing reflections on the book’s content
• Psychology students will lead a positivity workshop for middle school students
• Biology students are presenting HIV/AIDS research posters in Whitewater on Oct. 27
• Purdue Polytechnic Institute computer graphic arts students are designing interactive writing walls that will be located through campus and community
• Teachers in schools throughout the community are reading and discussing the books, including Centerville-Abington elementary, Northeastern Middle School, Vaile, and Communities in Schools site coordinators
• Students in middle and high school are reading the book, including Hagerstown-Jefferson Township Library Teen group, Union County Middle School, and Richmond High School’s Alliance club.
Paige Rawl’s presentation on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. in Vivian Auditorium will include a short informational powerpoint on HIV, followed by a testimonial of her experiences, a Q & A session, and book-signing. A few seats are still available but we do need reservations: https://iueonebook2015.eventbrite.com
We have created a resource guide: http://iue.libguides.com/onebook2015 and also have a site at which stories about overcoming difficulties can be posted anonymously: http://www.iue.edu/onebook (scroll down, right side of page). These can be about HIV, bullying, or any other type of challenge. Our hope is that this will create awareness that many people have a variety of obstacles they have survived, and it may serve as inspiration to others.
The One Book Facebook page will provide updates on some readers and their reactions, along with relevant articles and websites on the topics of HIV and bullying: https://www.facebook.com/iueonebook
Important resources specific to bullying in Indiana are Bullying Prevention & Intervention in Indiana http://www.doe.in.gov/student-services/bullying-prevention-intervention-indiana and Indiana Anti-Bullying Laws & Policies
http://www.stopbullying.gov/laws/indiana.html
If you would like to share comments directly with One Book 2015 Coordinator Frances Yates you are welcome to email her at fyates@iue.edu
If you are interested in more resources about HIV or bullying, please contact our library reference coordinator Matt Dilworth: iueref@iue.edu