SMC Senior Spreads Love of Reading Through New Program at Library

Kristen Drum

Contributing Writer

You take a deep breath, gently close the book, and stare silently ahead. Your favorite author has done it again, and you wonder, “Why don’t more people know about this incredible literary masterpiece?” You want to shout from the rooftops about the glory of the book you’ve just finished.

John Wilson, a senior studying English, history, and professional development at Spartanburg Methodist College (SMC), knows this feeling all too well, so he created a way to do just that with his program “Beyond the Bestsellers.”

Wilson, the first Community Outreach Intern for the Marie Blair Burgess Library at SMC, describes the new program he developed as part of his internship as “Reading Rainbow” for college students, referring to the popular PBS kids show that focused on teaching reading skills to kids.

“Instead of teaching literacy and how to read, we’re teaching love for wanting to read. It’s a collection of presentations by students, alumni, and professors,” Wilson said. “They talk about books, authors, short stories, or poems they like. Really, anything that is literature, they can come to speak about it. Anyone can come and get turned on to something new.”

Wilson puts no expectations or requirements on the presentation, simply asking that speakers choose a topic they are excited about.

Originally intended to be just a single event, it was so well received that it has expanded to monthly.  Prospective speakers have been reaching out to Wilson for the opportunity to spend an afternoon sharing their thoughts and fostering a dialogue with the attendees. Topics have ranged from Kurt Vonnegut to Velma Wallis, a writer of Gwich’in Athabascan Indian descent.

Dr. Litasha Dennis, an English professor at SMC, volunteered to present on her favorite author, Toni Morrison.

“I’m always drawn to Toni Morrison because she, as a writer, is so insightful,” she said.

In her presentation, Dr. Dennis spoke about the impact of Morrison’s work.

“She does a fantastic job of creating a world where representation and Blackness matter,” Dr. Dennis said. “It’s impactful to enter a world where people look like me and talk like I did, with cultural references intuitive to me.”

She used her opportunity to present not only to have a dialogue and share her love of Morrison but also to take the first steps toward creating a course surrounding the author.

With his internship coming to an end this semester, Wilson will pass the baton and his program to someone new next semester.

“I’m particularly enthusiastic about creating an opportunity for the SMC community to engage with literature through a unique approach. We definitely plan to continue the “Beyond the Bestsellers” program next semester, with a strategic focus on expanding our audience and reach’” said Susan Myers, the library’s Director.

While Wilson won’t be running the program next semester, he wants to share words of wisdom with his fellow students who perhaps have their own exciting ideas.

“For the students who read this, it was not that difficult to get this all together. It was an idea that my boss (Myers) supported that turned into a series people liked,” he said. “For the non-students, for the adults – people my age do want to do stuff. People my age do care.”