Library Buzzz

One Book programs have existed for several years in cities, public libraries, and colleges and universities across the country. This year, thanks in large part to a generous grant from Wells Fargo Bank, Sacramento State has launched an inaugural One Book program of its own. Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing up Iranian in America is Firoozeh Dumas’s bestselling first book. The book chronicles her family experiences as Iranian immigrants in the United States. Dumas’s humorous and engaging writing style make the book a perfect fit for a campus-wide reading extravaganza, which included the distribution of complementary copies of the book to all 2008 Sac State first year students.

To support campus efforts to promote and educate the community about the Program, a One Book Library exhibit entitled “A Hyphenated Existence: The Iranian-American Experience through Funny in Farsi” will be on display on the first and second floors of the library throughout the academic year. The exhibit complements the author’s visit to campus—which took place on October 15, 2008—as well as coursework and a variety of supporting lectures, films, concerts, and other related events. For further information, including an online Bibliography of Iranian and Iranian-American Resources, please see the Community Engagement Center’s One Book Program web site at: http://www.csus.edu/onebook/