The Selma and Dallas County Public Library Reading Discussion Group began in 1985 with the Alabama Humanities Foundation’s “Read, Alabama.”

It has continued since then, co-sponsored by the Alabama Humanities Foundation, “because we enjoyed the programs sent to us so much, we asked to continue it,” says Bunny Gamble, who heads the reading group locally.

Gamble was recently notified that the state program of the National Endowment for the Humanities is funding a program grant for the Public Library program.

The Reading Discussion Group meets from September to May, at 4 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. This year there are 12-15 members seated around the table in the Kathryn Windham Conference Room, with the current month book of choice in hand.

“We are not just a bunch of people sitting around talking,” comments group director Gamble. “The one and only criteria for membership is a love of reading and discussing books. We are open to the public.”

Gamble also notes while there are at present no male members, “they are equally welcome.”

Often joining the monthly gathering are Professors Nancy Anderson and Susie Paul of Auburn University at Montgomery, who assist with several programs over the year. Others are received from Pebble Hill at Auburn and some are in-house, Gamble explains.

“This group is a wonderful tool to support the Library. We’re not just a bunch of people sitting around talking.”

The choice of books is eclectic, at times covering in fiction from the old South to the New South. Books scheduled for the 2004-2005 sessions are:

(September’s choice was Tom Franklin’s Hell at the Breech.

Tuesday, October 19thAndre Makine, Dreams of My Russian Summers

Tuesday, November 16thRichard Russo, Nobody’s Fool

Tuesday, December 21stChristmas Special -TBA

Tuesday, January 18thMark Haddon, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time

Tuesday, February 15thVann Martel, The Life of Pi

Tuesday, March 15thSarah Dunant, The Birth of Venus

Tuesday, April 19thIan Caldwell, The Rule of Four

Tuesday, May 17thEnd of the Year Special – TBA

Sponsored by Alabama Humanities Foundation, a state

program of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Alabama Humanities Foundation fosters opportunities for lifelong learning by

bringing scholars and the public together to explore some fundamental humanities

questions. To accomplish this goal, the AHF grants funds provided by the National

Endowment for the Humanities to colleges and universities, libraries, museums, historical

organizations, arts organizations, schools and community groups. AHF also offers the

Speakers Bureau, Alabama Humanities Resource Center, SUPER (School and University

Partners for Educational Renewal, MOTHEREAD, a family reading and literary group,

and Theatre in the Mind, cosponsored with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.