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WHEELING -- The Ohio County Public Library is asking local residents to "take a late lunch" and meet at the "Almost Heaven" swing at Heritage Port for a commercial filming today from 2-4 p.m. to promote a reading initiative coined "Wheeling Reads."
Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott and West Virginia poet laureate Marc Harshman will be in attendance to promote the citywide initiative.
Throughout May and June, the library will hold events based on the novel titled "Heat and Light," by Jennifer Haigh, which has been chosen as the 2023 Wheeling read.
Sean Duffy, head of adult programming and local history at the library, says he wants local residents to be part of the commercial to promote inclusivity.
"We want to send the message that it doesn't matter who you are," he said. "Anyone can pick up this book and read it, listen to the audiobook or read the ebook, which are available online at the library."
No acting experience is required, and the library asks that any participants who own a copy of "Heat and Light" bring it with them for filming.
The initiative's free events throughout the coming months will include guest speakers, movie showings, discussions and trivia all held at the OCPL.
Duffy says the library aims to encourage local residents to all read the same book.
"Having people read the same book is a great way to stimulate discussion," he said. "There are lots of issues in this book, and then there's just the art of writing and having people communicate, sit down and talk about something we can all examine and come up with our own ideas about."
According to initiative information, "Heat and Light" follows a western Pennsylvania coal town's challenges with a local fracking company, while tackling topics like climate change, environmental justice and hope for the future.
Duffy says he wants the conversations to be open to all different types of perspectives.
"I'd like to talk about the issues but we don't want it to be a political thing," he said. "It's more of a what do you think about this book, how it's written, what issues it covers and what characters are involved."
"Wheeling Reads" kicked off Tuesday at the weekly "Lunch with Books" program held at the library every Tuesday at noon. Marshall University English professor Anthony Viola discussed his book titled "All Lies Begin with Truth."
The OCPL planned a "Wheeling Reads" initiative once before that was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Duffy says he hopes this year's initiative, and the included events, get people back in the library.
"A big part of it is just getting out and inspiring people to read more, but also to get people to go places like the library, or wherever we have a program related to this," he said.
Following the pandemic, he said he also wants to up community involvement and bring people together.
"It's important just to enjoy the company of other people and have a useful, rational discussion," he said.
The next event being held as part of the "Wheeling Reads" initiative is a free screening of the film "My Neighbor Totoro" on May 26 at 2 p.m. in the OCPL auditorium.