Salina Reads is a series of events whose goal is to strengthen community connections by widening perspectives and deepening understanding about differing points of view through literature, shared experience and discussion.
Salina Reads
Salina Reads is a series of events whose goal is to strengthen community connections by widening perspectives and deepening understanding about differing points of view through literature, shared experience and discussion.
About “Fuzz”
Mary Roach dives into the quirky and fascinating world of animal policing, exploring how law enforcement intersects with wildlife, from tracking poachers to managing dangerous or mischievous animals. With humor and curiosity, she reveals both the challenges and oddities of keeping humans and animals in check
Youth Recommendations
“Strictly No Elephants” by Lisa Mantchev (Picture Book)
“Never Buy a Raccoon at a Gas Station” by Beth Detjens (JNonFiction)
Share Your Story
Inspired by “Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law” by Mary Roach, we invite you to share your own story of wildlife mischief, environmental surprises, or a time when nature refused to follow the rules. Tell us about your funniest or most surprising encounter with the wild by filling out the form below or visiting the Information Desk at the library.
We would love to see your photos as well! Submit a photo to infoservices@salinapublic.org or bring a copy to the library.
We would love to see your photos as well! Submit a photo to infoservices@salinapublic.org or bring a copy to the library.
About “True Grit”
With her papa’s pistol tied to her saddlehorn and a supersized ration of audacity, 14 year-old Mattie Ross sets out to avenge her father’s murder. Set in the time around the founding of Salina, True Grit is a mirror into some of our own local history.
Youth Recommendations
“Let’s Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy” by Jan Thomas (Picture Book)
“Prairie Lotus” by Linda Sue Park (JFiction)
NEA Big Read is a program of the National endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.
Finale: Songs, Stories, and Spirit of Saline County
Saturday, April 26 | 7 p.m.
Come help us wrap up our Salina Reads month with a fun evening at the library of song, poetry, and storytelling on the theme of “Where We Live”. We will be joined by cowboy musician Don Wagner, cowboy poet Jerry Jones, and local community members with a story to tell.
Share Your Story
Do you have a story to share? We want to hear it! As part of the Salina Reads Finale event, we’re inviting community members to participate as storytellers. Selected stories will be presented in the Talk 20 format: 20 slides with pictures, 20 seconds per slide to tell your story.
Stories should connect to the theme, “Where We Live,” focusing on one or more of the following areas: The Environment, The People, Industry & Culture, or the History of Salina. Topics might include hobbies, projects, local history, or personal connections to Salina.
Applications will be reviewed and selected by library staff for stories that best fit the Finale event. We aim to present a diverse collection of perspectives, showcasing the unique ways Salina impacts its residents and how they shape the community in return.
Upcoming Events
Past Selections
2025 — “True Grit” by Charles Portis
2024 — “Lab Girl” by Hope Jahren
2023 — “Record of a Spaceborn Few” by Becky Chambers
2021 — “A Dog’s Purpose: A Novel for Humans” by W. Bruce Cameron
2019 — “Killers of the Flower Moon” by David Gann
2018 — “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah; and youth selections, “Last Stop on Market Street” by Matt de la Pena and “One Crazy Summer” by Rita Williams-Garcia
2017 — “The Last Cattle Drive” by Robert Day; and youth selections, “Old Yeller” by Fred Gipson and “Let’s Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy” by Jan Thomas
2016 — “Digging to America” by Anne Tyler and “The Namesake” by Jhumpa Lahiri; and youth selection, “The Tree in the Courtyard” by Jeff Gottesfeld
2015 — “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel
2014 — “The Worst Hard Time” Timothy Egan
2013 — “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time” by Mark Haddon
Upcoming Events
Past Selections
2024 — “Lab Girl” by Hope Jahren
2023 — “Record of a Spaceborn Few” by Becky Chambers
2021 — “A Dog’s Purpose: A Novel for Humans” by W. Bruce Cameron
2019 — “Killers of the Flower Moon” by David Gann
2018 — “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah; and youth selections, “Last Stop on Market Street” by Matt de la Pena and “One Crazy Summer” by Rita Williams-Garcia
2017 — “The Last Cattle Drive” by Robert Day; and youth selections, “Old Yeller” by Fred Gipson and “Let’s Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy” by Jan Thomas
2016 — “Digging to America” by Anne Tyler and “The Namesake” by Jhumpa Lahiri; and youth selection, “The Tree in the Courtyard” by Jeff Gottesfeld
2015 — “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel
2014 — “The Worst Hard Time” Timothy Egan
2013 — “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time” by Mark Haddon