After weeks of getting the word out to the public and planning public events for 2011, Malden Reads is gearing up to announce its selection for the city’s first community-wide reading project.

“The main book selection, and the four K-8 companion selections, will be announced next week. There will be a kickoff presentation at the Malden School Committee meeting on Monday, January 10,” said Malden Reads Director Anne D’Urso Rose. “Next week, we'll also go public with the book selection on our website, social media, press, flyers, and a display at the library.”

The School Committee and City Council are both expected to read proclamations in support of the project, she said.

Younger Maldonians can get in on the fun as well. Malden Reads has selected titles with similar themes to the main selection, but are geared towards different age levels.

Once the selection is announced, copies of the books will be available at several locations across the town aside from Malden’s beautiful and historic library, said D’Urso Rose.

“If you're a member of the Malden Senior Community Center, you can check out a copy there,” she said. “School children will be able to get copies from their school libraries. About 30 copies will be distributed at public locations around town—laundromats, hair salons, dentists' offices, and the like. The public library has ordered plenty of copies of the book for Malden circulation only.”

After months of preparation, D’Urso Rose said the group is ready for put the book out there to get Malden talking.

“What better way to meet your fellow community members than through the shared experience of a good book?” she asked.