One Book, One LCC Returning Fall 2025

By Sophia Potter
Editor in Chief

LCC is bringing back a program built to strengthen connections here on campus under its original name: One Book, One LCC.

“I have a deep belief in the power of stories to actually get people to talk about things and build community,” said Steering Committee Leader Susan Murphy.

Murphy was a co-manager of the event when One Book began in 2014 and recalls the event being a big hit even then.

“A lot of classes used it; there were lots of conversations, events – people actually talked about it – it was a lot of fun to be a part of.”

Murphy was a Librarian at LCC for over a decade and now works as a Professional Writing Assistant. She stepped away from the committee for several years after a short attempt at retirement; however, her prior experience makes the task feel “doable,” she joked.

For the past few years, One Book has run under the title Beyond the Book and undergone several changes including having multiple titles per year. Through conversation with faculty – namely Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Dale Dan – Murphy and the committee decided to restore the old name to signify a return to the formula that worked best for the college.

“There were a number of faculty that felt like the options with multiple titles wasn’t really working for them,” Murphy said. “So there were conversations like ‘if we were to start something up again, what would that look like?’ The clear consensus was only one book at a time.”

Murphy will have plenty of help with the planning and execution as well, from a steering committee that “represents people from all over the college – West Campus, STEM, English, CTE, HHS… just people with connections all over campus!”

Joining Murphy will be: Barb Clauer, English Department; Will Emerson, Health & Human Services; Amanda Estacio, Center for Teaching Excellence; Judy Herbert, Construction Management/West Campus; Melissa Kaplan, Academic and Arts Outreach Coordinator; Monique Lapinski, Chemistry Department; Pam Smith, Sociology and Caitlyn Stypa, Library.

In a time where togetherness could not be more vital, Murphy and the rest of the committee understand the importance of choosing a book that speaks to and unites the diverse community of readers here at LCC.

“It would be nice – it would be more than nice – to have a book that is inspiring, that makes us feel like there’s something we can do, that gives us the motivation to do so,” said Murphy.

“There’s great power in all of campus reading and thinking and talking about one book, exploring a common theme together in each of the different ways our widely varying disciplines have of knowing,” said Kaplan, another committee member.

To stay informed on upcoming events once the book has been announced in May, check out the One Book Padlet.

Ready to get reading? All previous “One Book” selections and supplemental material can be found on the library website Research Guides tab under Beyond the Book.