Celebrating Greensboro’s rich literary heritage, the Greensboro Public Library, along with the Greensboro Public Library Foundation and a host of community partners, sponsors the One City, One Book community read every other year. For the fall of 2023, The One City, One Book selection is The Carolina Table: North Carolina Writers on Food. The book is a collection of essays exploring our heritage through food-related stories set in North Carolina. The book explores the many ways food influences community and family, meals and manners, regional traditions, recipes and recollections.

The late Randall Kenan, and award-winning novelist and food writer, edited the collection. Some of North Carolina's favorite writers share their recollections including Lee Smith, Daniel Wallace, Marianne Gingher, Jill McCorkle, Jaki Shelton Green, Wayne Caldwell, Marcie Cohen Ferris, Michael McFee, Zelda Lockhart, noted cookbook author Nancie McDermott, and many others.

Library Director Brigitte Blanton shared insights on the selection process this year. “When I became Director in 2013, our system made the decision to run a public vote for our bi-annual One City, One Book Project and this year readers in the community suggested 51 titles. The selection committee narrowed that list to sixteen books and passed those on to the steering committee. The Carolina Table was chosen because we wanted a book that offered a broad range of programming opportunities that would appeal to our diverse population. Gathering for meals is a universal way to build relationships and good food brings people together, no matter the origins or ethnicity. We believe that the 2023 One City, One Book project will have a positive and lasting impact on our community.”

“The Greensboro Public Library is a Conduit to Destiny® and our One City, One Book community read opens new avenues of discovery for everyone who participates,” notes Director Brigitte Blanton. “I hope we can all come together to share a love for good cooking and all the traditions and memories to be found gathering around a table.”