The Shepherd University One Book, One Community Program has chosen This I Believe, edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman, as its common reading for the 2011-2012 academic year.

This I Believe is based on the very popular NPR “This I Believe” radio program. The program invites members of the Shepherd and Shepherdstown community to write their own “This I Believe” essay. Directions for writing the essay are in the appendix of the book, which can be found in the local bookstores and the Shepherdstown and Shepherd libraries. Essays sent electronically to jmcin tyr@shepherd.edu will be placed in Shepherd University, This I Believe, 2011-2012. Essay readings will be held Nov. 21 and Dec. 8 in the Robert C. Byrd Center for Legislative Studies Auditorium at 7 p.m.

The Scarborough Society will sponsor a lecture by Jay Allison on Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. in the Robert C. Byrd Center for Legislative Studies.

For more information on the Common Reading Program and events, visit www.shepherd.edu/commonreading or contact Judi McIntyre at 304-876-5396.