Even as planning continues for the 2010-11 Campus Community Book Project, the organizers are already looking ahead to 2011-12. The topic is confirmed — Native American-American Indian culture — and now the Campus Council on Community and Diversity is asking for book nominations.

Members of the book selection committee plan to start reading the nominated books in mid-July; therefore, nominations are sought by July 9. Submissions are welcome from anyone in the campus community or the greater Davis community.

(Note: If you are interested in serving on the selection committee, see below.)

The Campus Community Book Project aims to foster dialogue among students, faculty, staff and residents of the surrounding area about important social issues. The project also promotes learning about varied perspectives and ideas concerning the chosen topic.

The theme for 2010-11 is the “value of education or barriers to higher education,” and the chosen book is Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race, by Beverly Daniel Tatum. More information on the 2010-11 book project.

Mikael Villalobos, chair of the Campus Community Book Project, explained how the Campus Council on Community and Diversity settled on Native American-American Indian culture as the next theme:

“As the book project celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2011-12, the council felt it would be fitting to honor the people who once lived on the land that became UC Davis” — which boasts one of the few full-fledged Native American studies departments in the nation.

Amid recent discussions on the value and relevance of ethnic studies programs, Villalobos said, the 2011-12 book theme offers potential to engage the university and greater community.

“As an educational institution, we endeavor to explore these dynamics and engage thoughtfully about an issue that impacts our lives, directly and indirectly, with the goal of building a community that promotes diversity,” said Villalobos, administrator of Diversity Education Programs for the Office of Campus Community Relations.

Villalobos gave these criteria for book nominations:

• Compelling and thought provoking, to stimulate dialogue about contemporary questions that have many possible answers.

• Well-written and accessible to a general audience.

• Short enough to be read within the time frame usually allotted for coursework.

• Provocative and intriguing to as many members of the community as possible, as a way to invite diverse participation and integration into discussion groups and courses across the sciences, social sciences and humanities.

Eligibility extends to any published work that is still in print in paperback, fiction or nonfiction, plays, novels, even collections of short stories or essays.

An additional consideration is the possibility that the book’s author would be available to give an address at the end of the project.

Nominations should include book title and author, and a short description and explanation of why the book would be a worthy selection. Send your nomination by e-mail to mbvillalobos@ucdavis.edu.

Interested in serving on the selection committee? Contact Villalobos at (530) 752-2071 or mbvillalobos@ucdavis.edu. He said the committee meets through the summer and more frequently in the fall as the selection process nears its conclusion.

Earlier coverage: “2010-11 theme examines racial identity, access to higher education” (Feb. 26, 2010)