Roseburg Reads Community Book Project

This spring, Roseburg Public Library will host three events as part of its first Roseburg Reads Community Book Project. We'll be offering copies of Oregon author Tina Ontiveros' memoir titled "rough house" and discussing the book as a community in partnership with the Douglas Education Service District and Friends of the Roseburg Public Library. The one community, one book format will support conversations about rural and generational poverty, housing instability, addiction and the barriers that keep children of hardship from realizing their potential. Events: Thursday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m. - Community book discussion Thursday, May 6 at 6:30 p.m. - Conversation with the author, Tina Ontiveros Thursday, May 13 at 6 p.m. - Two-hour memoir writing workshop led by Tina Ontiveros All programs will be online and free and open to the public. Email kfischer@cityofroseburg.org for the Zoom invite, which will be sent out the week of each event. Contact the library at (541) 492-7050 for more information.

Copies of “rough house” are available on our catalog, roseburg.biblionix.com, with a limited number of copies available to those who are not eligible for a free Roseburg Public Library card. Please email kfischer@cityofroseburg.org for more information on getting a free copy of "rough house". Discussion questions for the community book discussion event can be found here.

Tina Ontiveros was the first person in her family to go to college, earning a bachelor’s degree in literature and a master of fine arts degree in nonfiction writing. She teaches writing and literature at Columbia Gorge Community College in The Dalles. “rough house” explores her upbringing, particularly her relationship with her charming yet abusive father, Loyd, who spent the final years of his life in Douglas County. Published in September 2020 by Oregon State University Press, “rough house” was an October 2020 Indie Next Great Read and a winner of the 2021 Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Book Award.

Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries is an initiative of the American Library Association (ALA) in collaboration with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL).