KCC Reads involves the larger Kingsborough community in an elaborate and open book selection process that is conducted online (and thus in a manner visible to the entire community) and in a series of Open Meetings that are advertised and open to all constituencies of the Kingsborough College community are invited.

Stage one: Development of the Long List of Nominations, Open Meeting, and Short List


Books are solicited from the entire community online and a list of ten to sixteen books are compiled. This is our "long list". This stage ends in an Open Meeting to which all constituencies of the college are invited. In the course of the meeting, each book is introduced, browsed and discussed with an eye to its relevance to our constituencies and the probability of successfully arranging for the visit of the writer. There is a vote that results in a "short list" of four books to be read and discussed in stage two by our reading group.


Stage two: Reading Group, and Final Selection at Open Meeting: (winter, early Spring)


A reading group open to all constituencies of the college reads through and discusses the four books, again with an eye to their usefulness in the classroom and appeal to other constituencies in the college. The reading process culminates in an Open Meeting at which time there is a final discussion of the four "finalists" and a vote to determine the KCC Reads text for the following year.

Some of the criteria that have evolved over the years include:


1. Literary quality of the writing
2. Interest and social relevance of the book proposed
3. Probable availability of the writer to come to Kingsborough
4. Availability in paperback.

Important Dates:


Nov. 27, 2007: M239, 3PM: Open Meeting to consider Long list and develop a short list of nominations.
March 13, 2008: M239, 3PM: Open Meeting to discuss our short list and finalize a selection for 2008-2009.