The Cherry Cola Book Club

March 1, 2013
Cherico, Mississippi: population, 5,000; home to a gourmet caf', funky hardware store, vintage antiques shop, and an underutilized library that is struggling to stay open. A newly minted librarian, Maura Beth Mayhew, landed the directorship of the Cherico Public Library straight out of graduate school. Now, six years later, her dream job has become a nightmare as she is presented with a three-month deadline to get her circulation and membership numbers upor else. Thus is born the Cherry Cola Book Club, a cute name for a serious effort to save Cherico's library. As Maura enlists various townspeople to join the discussion group, where they deconstruct classic southern literature while delving into potluck suppers showcasing classic southern cuisine, her hugely successful efforts go roundly mocked and criticized by the recalcitrant councilmen. In the quest to change the officials' opinion and hold on to this valued resource, vibrant friendships transform the small but appreciative community. Lee's buoyant David-versus-Goliath tale zestfully illuminates a real problem confronting libraries and cities of all sizes.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)