Read Across Lawrence

Literature is the tie that binds. Once a year, Lawrence comes together as a community to read the same book and explore its major themes with discussions and interactive programs. Read Across Lawrence (RAL) promotes literacy, fosters community and provides common ground for intergenerational, cross-cultural and civic-minded educational discussions. It's also, to put it simply, a really fun and social way to get the most out of a book. Let's read together!

Broadening the audience — then rethinking it. In 2012, Lawrence Public Library expanded their RAL program to include a teen and kid selection. A variety of programs and events specific to these age groups ran parallel throughout Read Across Lawrence. In 2022, we shifted Read Across Larewnce back to an adults-only community read, using our annual Summer Reading Challenge as our youth-focused literacy initiative.