BIDDEFORD — Last week Patricia Remillard, a librarian at Biddeford Intermediate School, spoke to members of the School Committee, detailing a program called One Book, One School, One Library.

The program, which runs every other year, was spawned by a partnership between the school and MacArthur Public Library to “create a large-scale reading event where every member of the school community is reading the same book at the same time,” said Remillard. “(The program) is designed to promote literacy and to foster a sense of community.”

A book is provided to every BIS student and staff member ”“ from teachers to administrative personnel to kitchen staff. Two years ago the book of choice was “Lost Trail: Nine Days Alone in the Wilderness” by Donn Fendler, and this year it’s “Giant Squid: Searching for a Sea Monster” by Mary M. Cerullo.

“Giant Squid,” which was published in 2012, has entirely positive reviews online and tells the real-life tales of ocean scientist and squid expert Clyde Roper as he searches for the giant squid ”“ a species so large and elusive that it’s taken on a nearly mythical essence.

Next Thursday, Jan. 29, Cerullo will be at MacArthur Public Library, at 270 Main St., from 5:30-6:30 p.m. to sign copies of “Giant Squid,” said Remillard. Biddeford students and their families are especially encouraged to attend, but the event is open to all, she said, and a limited number of Cerullo’s books will also be for sale.

In an email on Wednesday, BIS reading teacher Laurie Sullivan gave One Book, One School, One Library high praise, noting that through the buzz the program creates, it promotes literacy and better reading habits in children.

“This event creates such an excitement with students,” she said. “We treat our author like a ”˜rock star,’ beginning our day by lining up outside the school, so when our author arrives, she gets to enter our school through a tunnel of cheering students and staff who are holding welcome posters and signs.”

Sullivan also said that the community-focused nature of the project is key to its success and popularity.

“We want to foster a sense of community,” she said. “Part of our job as educators is to model reading for our students. They need to see that the importance of reading is bigger than just their classroom at school.”

— Staff Writer Angelo J. Verzoni can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or averzoni@journaltribune.com.