Saratoga Reads closed out its seventh year of public programming with a well-attended capstone event on the evening of Friday, April 8. The event, held at the Saratoga Springs Public Library, featured a talk by noted translator Stephen Snyder, professor of Japanese studies at Middlebury College, who discussed the art of translation and the challenges of bridging cultures through literary works.

Translator Stephen Snyder and Saratoga Reads Board Chair Tabitha Orthwein pose with the "memory jacket," a key element of the Housekeeper and the Professor. The jacket was stationed at Saratoga Reads events, and participants were urged to attach poignant memories of the joy of reading.

Snyder was the translator for this year's Saratoga Reads book of choice, The Housekeeper and the Professor, a novel by contemporary Japanese author Yoko Ogawa. The book was originally published in Japanese in 2003, selling more than 2.5 million copies, and was translated by Snyder into English in 2009.

In his capstone presentation, Snyder discussed the process of translating The Housekeeper and the Professor and the challenges that editors and translators face in moving a book from one language and literary culture to another. He described how a book gets chosen for translation, how translators and publishers are selected, and the role of translation in increasingly globalized societies. The talk was illustrated with photos and artwork.

In addition to the talk, the event paid tribute to the victims of the current disasters in Japan, and donations were accepted for Shelter Box, an international aid organization that provides shelter and life-saving equipment to families.

Following the presentation, Saratoga Reads welcomed its sponsors, volunteers, and community participants to an appreciation reception

Since the announcement of the winning title in November, Saratoga Reads and its community partners held a wide range of events for the public based on the themes of the book. These programs included discussions for adults and young readers; movie screenings; bookstore fairs; hands-on arts workshops for kids; and sessions on memory loss, cognition, and aging led by experts in the field.

Wrap-up includes community input—We want to hear from you!

As Saratoga Reads closes out its seventh year, we are seeking your assistance in assessing our programming and community outreach. Please take a couple of minutes to fill out our online survey: http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e3q0hv8jgmmlvdgd/start Your input will help us make our programs even stronger.

NOMINATIONS FOR YEAR EIGHT BEGIN JUNE 15

Mark your calendars for June 15, when Saratoga Reads will begin accepting nominations for next year's book of choice. Suggested titles will be reviewed by our Selection Advisory Committee, and then a slate of books will be announced for a public vote. For more information visit