Milton Reads Together: ‘One Book, One Milton’ Unites Community at Local Library Events

By: Yubin Yeon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Milton Reporter

Bringing the community together is one of the most challenging aspects of building a cooperative environment.

One Book, One Milton is a community-wide reading initiative organized by the Milton Public Library (MPL) that aims to unite residents by encouraging everyone to read and discuss a shared book.

Each year, MPL selects a Canadian literary work and builds a series of events around it, including author talks and community discussions. The purpose of the initiative is to create a shared reading experience that sparks dialogue and connects people of all backgrounds.

Aimee Starr, a resident who attended the event in 2024, said hosting events in public libraries can bring people in town together as a community.

“I think it is important to bring the community as together….events such as meeting the author’s who wrote the books that we read is a meaningful time to be together with people and having quality time,” she said.

Throughout the event, the public was encouraged to participate as a community, gathering in public spaces and engaging with authors through books and conversation.

Chris Dorscht, director of customer experience at MPL, said, “Our goal was to choose a book that invites connection and meaningful dialogue. We measure success through event attendance, community feedback, partnerships, and engagement across platforms. When the book sparks conversation and brings people together, we know we’ve succeeded.”

According to MPL’s official annual reports, the library’s programming attendance increased significantly from 2022 to 2024, rising from 12,226 to 20,798 participants.

The most recent report highlights that 15,958 of those attendees in 2024 were children, demonstrating the initiative’s growing impact on younger audiences.

This suggests that One Book, One Milton has helped foster a closer-knit community in the Milton area, particularly among youth.

“We chose Heather O’Neill’s The Capital of Dreams because its themes of resilience, mythology, and survival encourage reflection and conversation. Its lyrical, imaginative style makes it a powerful and accessible choice for a wide audience,” Dorscht said, introducing the featured author for the upcoming 2025 event.

Scheduled for Oct. 8 at the FirstOntario Arts Centre Milton, the event is expected to further strengthen community bonds and highlight the importance of shared literary experiences.