Year of UK 2025 - University Libraries

We are excited to be partnering with Global Education to offer special programs, highlighting UK authors and events. Check out schedule of event below. We will be adding more information and events to this calendar throughout the school year.

Book Club

September 24

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Author: C.S. Lewis

The first session of the Year of the United Kingdom book club features The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. This British classic follows four siblings who discover a magical world through a wardrobe, where they encounter mythical creatures, an eternal winter, and a powerful battle between good and evil. Rich in imagination and symbolism, the story offers a captivating journey through one of the UK’s most cherished literary works -- and at 75 years old it still captures readers, young and old alike!

Come ready to reflect and discuss the book -- and enjoy a cuppa and a biscuit while you connect with faculty, staff, and students.

Location: The Nest, Sturgis Library

Facilitator: Kristina Clement, Academic Engagement and Instruction Assistant Director, University Libraries

Get the book: Read online with KSU Libraries

event closed

October 22

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Author: Douglas Adams

The second session of our book club is being held in the Johnson Library on Marietta campus, and we will be discussing "The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams. This beloved British sci-fi comedy follows Arthur Dent, an ordinary man swept into an extraordinary adventure across the universe after Earth is unexpectedly demolished. With its sharp wit, quirky characters, and philosophical undertones, the book is both hilarious and thought-provoking. Whether you're new to the story or revisiting a classic, it's the perfect way to celebrate iconic UK literature.

Come ready to reflect and discuss the book – and enjoy a cuppa and a biscuit while you connect with faculty, staff, and students.

Location: Room 135, Johnson Library

Facilitator: Karen Doster-Greenleaf, Academic and Engagement Director, University Libraries

Get the book: Read online with KSU Libraries

rsvp to the event

November 19

Pride & Prejudice

Author: Jane Austen

Location: The Nest, Sturgis Library

Facilitator: Kate Matheny, Outreach Archivist, Museums, Archives and Rare Books

Get the book: Read with Project Gutenberg eBooks

rsvp link coming soon

February 25

David Copperfield

Authors: Charles Dickens

Location: Virtual Meeting (link coming soon)

Facilitator: Ashley Dupuy, University Libraries Executive Director

Get the book: Read with Project Gutenberg eBooks

rsvp link coming soon

Demon Copperhead

Author: Barbara Kingsolver

In the February session, we will also be covering Demon Copperhead, a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that reimagines David Copperfield in the modern-day Appalachian region of the US.

Get the book: Check back for a copy of the book

rsvp link coming soon

March 25

Code Name Verity

Author: Elizabeth Wein

Location: MHHE Theater, KSU Center

Facilitator: Katy Matello, Education and Outreach Coordinator, Museum of History and Holocaust Education

Get the book: Read online with KSU Libraries

rsvp link coming soon

April 22

Peter and Wendy

Author: James Matthew Barrie

Location: The Nest, Sturgis Library

Facilitator: JoyEllen Williams, Special Collections Curator, Museums, Archives, and Rare Books

Get the book: Read with Project Gutenberg eBooks

rsvp link coming soon

MHHE Dinner, Movie, and a Tour

Thursday, October 9 • 6:00 pm
KSU Center, Room 300

The Museum of History and Holocaust Education is partnering with the Year of UK to offer this special event for the campus community. We will be showing the Christopher Nolan movie, Dunkirk. The film tells the true story of the evacuation of Dunkirk, France by British, Belgian and French soldiers after allied troops were left surrounded by German forces in 1940. It is told from three different perspectives - air, sea, and land. We will also be highlighting our new exhibit, "The Special Relationship: The US and UK during WWII," which was curated this summer by our Special Projects team.

The event is free, and dinner and dessert will be provided. Come early to tour the museum and see our newest exhibit, SAVE ONE LIFE: Reistance During the Holocaust. Check back to register.

250 Years of Jane Austen: A Rare Book Celebration

November & December
Athenaeum Gallery, Second floor, Sturgis Library

Join us in celebrating Jane Austen’s 250th birthday (December 16). Drop by anytime the library is open to see our special collection of Jane Austen’s works and other interesting artifacts, courtesy of KSU’s Rare Book Museum.