The idea behind One Read first took root in Seattle in 1997. We adopted the concept in 2001, modeling ours after Chicago’s “One Book, One Chicago.” Many of our One Read authors have been part of other similar community-wide adult reading programs. Even so, they are routinely impressed with the level of involvement from our community and tell us that the quality of the One Read events sets our effort apart.

Susan Daly is a lifelong resident of Boone County who began her banking career at age 18. She is now vice president senior trust and compliance officer for Bank of Missouri.

If you’re like me, you enjoy reading, listening to music on long car rides and watching movies as part of your summer vacation. Also, I love that I can pack it all with me on my smart phone or tablet. What makes it even better is being able to get it all for free from the library. I can download my entertainment on the spot, wherever I am, through dbrl.org.

A new, larger book drop was installed at the library thanks to a $6,215 donation from the Friends of the Callaway County Public Library. The Friends raise money throughout the year with their book sales, with proceeds going to the library.

This year, our community has voted to read “Bettyville,” a memoir by Paris, Missouri native George Hodgman. The book is a New York Times bestseller, a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection and a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.

Maybe you’re doing genealogy research, looking into a sensitive legal issue or checking out a torrid romance novel. There are details of your library use that you may prefer to keep from the prying eyes of strangers, neighbors, co-workers or even family.

With so many companies, government agencies and schools requesting that people fill out applications and forms online, some people are left behind. Not everyone has a computer at home, and dial-up internet access is still as fast as it gets in some parts of Mid-Missouri.