Adams County Reads One Book

One Book

What is our One Book program? It is a time when we encourage the entire community to read the same book, which this year is: Leave Only Footprints, by Conor Knighton. ACROB is the largest adult program in the system. In October, we have programming centered on topics addressed in the book. If you still need to read this year's book, it is currently available in 3 different formats (click to view):

Book

E-Book

E-Audio Book  

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “A delightful sampler plate of our national parks, written with charisma and erudition.”—Nick Offerman, author of Paddle Your Own Canoe

From CBS Sunday Morning correspondent Conor Knighton, a behind-the-scenery look at his year traveling to each of America's National Parks, discovering the most beautiful places and most interesting people our country has to offer.

When Conor Knighton set off to explore America's "best idea," he worried the whole thing could end up being his worst idea. A broken engagement and a broken heart had left him longing for a change of scenery, but the plan he'd cooked up in response had gone a bit overboard in that department: Over the course of a single year, Knighton would visit every national park in the country, from Acadia to Zion.

In Leave Only Footprints, Knighton shares informative and entertaining dispatches from what turned out to be the road trip of a lifetime. Whether he's waking up early for a naked scrub in a historic bathhouse in Arkansas or staying up late to stargaze along our loneliest highway in Nevada, Knighton weaves together the type of stories you're not likely to find in any guidebook. Through his unique lens, America the Beautiful becomes America the Captivating, the Hilarious, and the Inspiring. Along the way, he identifies the threads that tie these wildly different places together—and that tie us to nature—and reveals how his trip ended up changing his views on everything from God and love to politics and technology.

Filled with fascinating tidbits about our parks' past and reflections on their fragile future, this book is both a celebration of and a passionate case for the natural wonders that all Americans share.

Adams County Reads One Book Programming:

ACROB: Virtual Book Discussion Saturday, OCT 1: 10:30 AM Sunday, OCT 16: 1:00 PM - Join fellow readers in a virtual discussion of this year’s Adams County Reads One Book selection, Leave Only Footprints. Upon registration, you will receive a link to the Zoom meeting.

ACROB: Live Interactive Virtual Tour of Yellowstone National Park Thursday, OCT 6 6:00 PM - Join us for an informative, fun look at some of the sites at Yellowstone National Park. Experience all the sights, sounds, science, history and ecology with your guide, Ashea Mills, of Walking Shadow Ecology Tours. There are several ways to join in. Let us know upon registration if you would like the Zoom link to view from home or if you would like to join us in person at the library to participate in this tour! Library viewing locations will be Trone Memorial Library, New Oxford Library, and Harbaugh~Thomas Library.

Book Discussion: Leave Only Footprints  Gettysburg Library Friday, October 7 10:00 AM - Join us as we discuss this year’s One Book, Leave Only Footprints by Conor Knighton. Registration Required.

Tuesday Trivia Trap: National Parks Gettysburg Library Tuesday, OCT 11 6:30 PM - Looking for a night to compete with others in a trivia contest? Look no further. An evening of three trivia rounds. And a prize for the winning team participants! Come as a team or come and create a team with other participants. Get trapped with trivia! Theme: National Parks Registration Required - Register as a team or as an individual.

ACROB Book Discussion Littlestown Library Wednesday, OCT 12 6:00 PM - Come in for a lively and insightful evening discussion on this year’s One Book, Conor Knighton’s Leave Only Footprints.

ACROB Readers Forum New Oxford Library Thursday, OCT 13 10:00 AM - Join our Readers Forum and other fellow readers to discuss this year’s One Book Selection, Leave Only Footprints.

Gettysburg National Military Park & Monuments New Oxford Library Tuesday, OCT 18 3:00 PM - In honor of our 2022 Adams County Reads One Book Program, Mary Hoban will discuss our local National Park’s monuments. At Gettysburg there are over 1,328 monuments or markers; within that number are more than 260 monuments to Union regiments. Years after the battle many of those monuments were designed by the men that served in those regiments. The slideshow presentation will take a look at some of those monuments to try to comprehend what they represent. Registration preferred.

ACROB Book Discussion: Leave Only Footprints Carroll Valley Library Wednesday, OCT 19 2:00PM - Join us for some good company and conversation as we discuss this year’s Adams County Reads One Book selection, Leave Only Footprints by Conor Knighton.

Capturing the Beauty of the Outdoors Littlestown Library Wednesday, OCT 19 6:30 PM - Learn the how-tos of capturing the perfect outdoor photographs from a local seasoned photographer. Whether your next outdoor adventure is to one of the National Parks or the Gettysburg Battlefield, you’ll be sure to leave with tips that’ll help you capture the beauty of your adventure.

ACROB Book Discussion: Leave Only Footprints Harbaugh-Thomas Library Thursday, OCT 20 1:00 PM - Join us for a discussion of Leave Only Footprints: My Acadia-to-Zion Journey Through Every National Park by Conor Knighton.

Recollections of a National Park Ranger Carroll Valley Library Thursday, OCT 20 6:30 PM - From 1978 until January 2017 Brion FitzGerald served as a ranger with the US National Park Service. During his career he worked at 10 different National Park Service (NPS) sites across the US and its territories’. He served in a variety of positions, beginning as an Intern at the Great Smoky Mtn National Park and ending as Superintendent of Virgin Islands National Park and Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument. He spent almost half of his career at Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site where he served as Chief Ranger, Chief of Operations and finally as Deputy Superintendent. He will speak about his experience and the areas he was fortunate to have worked in.

Thursday Fun Night Trone Memorial Library Thursday, OCT 20 6:30 PM - In honor of this year’s Adams County Reads One Book, join Miss Sherry at the Trone Memorial Library for a special Camp Out Storytime for the family!

National Park: Flat Stanley/ Flat Ranger Gettysburg Library Thursday, OCT 20 4:30 PM - Learn about the Cane River Creole National Historic Park. We will then make our own Flat Stanley or Flat Ranger and write a letter to the park. Your park ranger will then travel to the park where they receive their own personal tour. Your Ranger may even get the chance to visit another national park. You will be able to pick up your ranger at the library once they have returned from their educational journey.

National Parks Trivia for Teens! New Oxford Library Thursday, OCT 20 3:30 PM & 6:30 PM - From well-known landmarks to obscure wildlife factoids, our national park trivia is sure to be a mind-bending challenge! Winners for both will receive a prize.

Our Planet Screening Gettysburg Library Saturday, OCT 22 (first 4 episodes) Saturday, OCT 29 (last 4 episodes 10:00 AM - Join us as we screen episodes of David Attenborough’s documentary series, Our Planet. Light refreshments will be provided. Registration Requested.

Community Book Discussion - Virtual Tuesday, OCT 25 4:00 PM - Join the Community Book Discussion group to discuss Leave Only Footprints by Conor Knighton. Email or call to reserve a copy! sallyc@adamslibrary.org.

Community Book Discussion Trone Memorial Library Tuesday, OCT 25 6:30 PM - Join the Community Book Discussion group at the Trone Memorial Library to discuss Leave Only Footprints by Conor Knighton. Email or call to reserve a copy! sallyc@adamslibrary.org.

What You Miss in Our National Parks If You Stay in Your Car Harbaugh-Thomas Library Wednesday, OCT 26 6:30 PM - Our national parks are an amazing and stunning legacy for those who love the outdoors. A lot can be seen when driving through them, but the real beauty and mystique lies beyond the car door and the paved road. Ed Riggs will take you on a journey of what goes on in the back-country of our most precious resource.

3 1/2 Decades in the National Parks: A Ranger’s Memorable Moments and Lessons Learned Gettysburg Library Thursday, OCT 27 6:30 PM - Retired Park Ranger and Gettysburg Library staff member, John Joyce, looks back at his time as a ranger and the various parks that he worked at. Registration Requested.

Next Year's One Book

A committee of library staff and community members select the year's title from a list of about 40 books. If you have any suggestions, feel free to let any staff member know!

One Book 2021 Selection

The 2021 One Book Selection is The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates.  Copies are available in regular print, large print, audio, ebook and eaudio.

Past Selections

2020 Selection: The Woman Who Smashed Codes by Jason Fagone

An eccentric millionaire. A brilliant woman. A world of espionage and codes and ciphers. Two world wars, more than a dozen dinner parties, a plethora of correspondence, and a legacy left hidden in archives and libraries for decades. All of these pieces describe this year’s Adams County Reads One Book selection, “The Woman Who Smashed Codes,” by Jason Fagone.

Click Here to check out the brochure!

2019 Selection: What the Dead Leave Behind by Rosemary Simpson

2018 Selection: A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline

2017 Fiction Selection: Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal

2017 Nonfiction Selection: The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of a Donner Party Bride by Daniel James Brown

2016 Fiction Selection: Longbourn by Jo Baker

2016 Nonfiction Selection: Sex on the Moon: The Amazing Story Behind the Most Audacious Heist in History by Ben Mezrich

2015 Fiction Selection: Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

2015 Nonfiction Selection: In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson

2014: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

2013: Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard

2012: A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron

2011: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie