UCSB Reads brings the entire campus together every year to read, discuss, and engage with an important contemporary book. As a faculty member or instructor, you play a pivotal role in this shared intellectual experience.

By integrating the UCSB Reads selection into your curriculum or partnering with the Library, you enrich your students' learning, foster interdisciplinary dialogue, and help build a vibrant campus community.

Here are three impactful ways you can get involved:

1. Bring UCSB Reads into Your Classroom

Enhance your winter or spring quarter syllabus by adopting this year’s UCSB Reads selection. Whether you assign the entire book, a single chapter, or use it as a thematic jump-off point, your course will connect students to broader campus- and community-wide conversations.

Step 1: Get a Review Copy

Not sure if it fits your courses yet? Email UCSBReads@library.ucsb.edu to request a complimentary review copy.

Step 2: Get Free Copies for Your Students

If you’ve decided to teach the book, partner with the Library to provide free copies to your enrolled students, removing financial barriers to learning. Email UCSBReads@library.ucsb.edu with the course title, quarter, expected enrollment, and total number of copies needed.

Step 3: Integrate the Book

You can engage your students in a variety of ways with the book and the UCSB Reads program: 

  • Designing a creative project around the UCSB Reads book
  • Ask students to reflect on how the book's themes relate to their coursework or field of study 
  • Offer extra credit to students who attend UCSB Reads programming, including the Author Talk
  • Collaborate with the Library to design programming inside the classroom

2. Co-Sponsor or Propose Joint Programming

If the themes of the selected book intersect with your research, creative work, or course topics, please consider co-sponsoring or proposing joint programming.

The Library can help amplify, host, and support programming such as:

  • Lectures, panel discussions, fireside chats, workshops or book clubs
  • Film screenings or artistic performances
  • Interactive student showcases or community conversations
  • Physical or digital exhibitions

Review previous programming and upcoming programming, then email your idea to UCSBReads@library.ucsb.edu. 

3. Support UCSB Reads Through Departmental Sponsorship

UCSB Reads relies on financial contributions from campus and community supporters to keep books free for students and keep public programming accessible to all.

You can help sustain this vital interdisciplinary program by encouraging your academic department to make a financial contribution. 

Departments interested in sponsoring UCSB Reads are encouraged to contact UCSBReads@library.ucsb.edu to discuss sponsorship opportunities and ways to support the program. 

More Information