CITY LIBRARIANS PICK COMMUNITY PAGE-TURNER.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Librarians are ready to do whatever it takes to get residents to curl up with a good book. They'll even pick one to get them started.

Yann Martel's award-winning novel ``Life of Pi,'' which tells the story of a young boy who learns to survive using his knowledge, faith and determination, has been selected for the first ``One Book, One Santa Clarita'' citywide read.

``Several communities have done similar projects, reading one book and gathering together to discuss it,'' said Susan Broman, librarian at the Canyon Country Jo Anne Darcy Library, who came up with the plan. ``We chose 'Life of Pi' because it's a fun book to read for different age levels. It's well-written, with a lot of scenes of religion and self- sufficiency, appealing to a broad range.''

Broman and Leslie Bretall, the reference librarian at College of the Canyons, decided to launch the program in conjunction with National Library Week. Books will be available at all local libraries and for a discount at Borders. The library bought dozens of extra copies with help from the nonprofit Friends of the Libraries.

Cities across America have been hosting One Book programs ever since 1998 when Nancy Pearl, a librarian for Seattle's Washington Center for the Book, suggested that all the residents of Seattle read Russell Banks' ``The Sweet Hereafter.'' Now, more than 250 cities around the world have adopted the program that promotes reading and prompts discussions between colleagues and neighbors.

After today's launch of the program, there will be four more public events that revolve around ``Life of Pi.'' A general discussion group will be held at 6:30 p.m. April 27 at the Canyon Country Library; a special Survival Skills workshop presented by Earthskills will be held at 2 p.m. April 30 at the Valencia Library; a special group talk focused on seniors will be held at 1:30 p.m. May 4 at the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center, and at 7 p.m. May 5 junior high and high school students are invited to come to Borders to share their thoughts on the work. A closing reception for the project will be held at 6:30 p.m. May 11 at the Valencia Library.

``Getting people together to share books has always been something that appealed to me,'' said Broman. ``I'm always looking for unique opportunities to have them interact with their neighbors and share ideas.''

``Our aim is to get more people reading and talking about books,'' Bretall said. ``People don't have much of a chance to do that after high school, so we are trying to specialize in a couple of events for that population.''

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Librarian Susan Broman thumbs through a copy of ``Life of Pi,'' the community book program selection.

David Crane/Staff Photographer