Volunteer Gets Plymouth Hooked on a Book

Plymouth READS volunteer LuAnn Svendsen uses her love of reading to help unite the community. 

“It’s been really fulfilling and really fun,” says Svendsen.

Plymouth READS is a collaboration of Friends of the Plymouth Library, the city of Plymouth, Hennepin County Library and the Hennepin Arts Council. The group seeks to spark conversation, find common ground and foster learning by rallying readers around a single book.

“We look for local Minnesota authors so we won’t have to pay a fortune to bring them here,” says Svendsen. “We look for a book with universal appeal.”

Svendsen is an avid reader herself. She also serves on an additional committee that reads books in hopes of selecting next year’s pick.

“While I’m working, she’s picking up piles of books to bring home. She’s constantly reading,” says Jim Magnuson, a librarian with the Plymouth branch of Hennepin County Library. 

Magnuson serves alongside Svendsen on the Plymouth READS committee.

“If [the committee] starts to spin out and have too many ideas or maybe we get blocked on one avenue, she pulls us back and reminds of our core mission,” Magnuson said.

This year’s Plymouth READS pick

This year’s focus is on the book “Locally Laid” by Lucie Amundsen. The memoir shares the author’s transition from corporate life to farm life.

“We want a book that everyone will enjoy and this book has an enormous amount of appeal because so many people are concerned about food,” says Svendsen.

Not only is the community encouraged to read a common book, but to attend a variety of local events to learn more about the subject. To compliment this year’s book, Plymouth READS designed a display about local food at the library. They plan to have a herb garden and share recipes. Then, author Lucie Amundsen will speak on Sunday, April 22, at 6:30 p.m. at the Plymouth Creek Center. All events are free.

If you like to read or are interested in learning more, you can tap into Plymouth READS events through the Plymouth Library website or the Plymouth READS Facebook page.

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