The college library has chosen “Water Matters: Why We Need to Act Now to Save Our Most Precious Resource” as next academic year’s selection for the OCCC Reads Program, said Librarian Tricia Sweany.

The coming water shortage in the world — and in the U.S. — is one reason the college library chose “Water Matters: Why We Need to Act Now to Save Our Most Precious Resource” as next academic year’s selection for the OCCC Reads Program.

OCCC Reads is a community reading program, said Librarian Tricia Sweany. She said she and other librarians reach out to faculty and encourage them to use the book in their classes.

“We’re trying non-fiction because we believe in water and want people to know that when they waste water, it is gone and there is no way to get it back,” she said.

“It is a supply that is running low and a lot of places around the world don’t have it, so we are hoping to raise awareness and have people get involved and be aware of the issue.”

Sweany said anyone can participate in the OCCC Reads program and more people are expected to participate this year.

Instead of having events only in October about the book “Water Matters,” Sweany said,  they will be having two or three events per month throughout the academic year. These events may include special guests and members of the faculty.

Sweany said they also have reached out to OCCC’s Facilities Management Department to do a program or event about water and water sustainability at OCCC ­— what the college’s water usage is and what the college is doing to conserve water.

“Everyone, so far, we have asked to do programs is very excited,” Sweany said.

“They very much believe in water as the topic and raising awareness to faculty, staff, and students who may not realize we have a water crisis coming.

“We have one faculty member talking about water ethics and one who might be talking about where water comes from.”

Librarians also have talked to people from the city and from state agencies who deal with water every day, asking them to talk to people about water.

“The great thing about this book is it’s an anthology,” she said. “It has pictures and short chapters on different topics.

“‘Water Matters’ is just a really good book.”

This program is suggested to all students, faculty, and staff.

“It’s a really great program,” Sweany said.

“The Community Read is (designed) to bring everyone together and read this one book on one topic.”

Copies of the book for the 2015-2016 OCCC Reads program will be available in the OCCC library in the fall.

Faculty members who want books for their classroom can email Sweany at tricia.l.sweany@occc.edu, and she will send a classroom set.

To contact Abby Clanin, email onlineeditor@occc.edu