NORWAY – Rob Shetterly, creator of the portraits of “Americans Who Tell the Truth,” will be at the Norway Memorial Library at 7 p.m. Monday, March 24, as a presenter in the series of programs being offered by One Book One Community: Oxford Hills Reads 2008.

Twelve of his more than 100 portraits are on display at the library and may be seen throughout March during the library’s regular hours. Some of the people portrayed are Samantha Smith, Sister Lucy Poulin, Granny D, Bill McKibben, Bill Moyers and Marian Wright Edelman.

Shetterly will talk about the portraits being exhibited as well as the “Americans Who Tell the Truth” project. The public is welcome, and the program will be appropriate for students.

Shetterly lives in Brooksville and is an artist as well as an author. He said, “I began painting this series of portraits – finding great Americans who spoke the truth and combining their images with their words – nearly three years ago as a way to channel my anger and grief (after the Sept. 11 tragedy).

“In the process, my respect and love for these people and their courage helped to transform that anger into hope and pride and allowed me to draw strength from this community of truth tellers”

The theme for the 2008 One Book One Community program is “Making A Difference,” and the book chosen to read to illustrate the theme is “Here If You Need Me” by Maine author Kate Braestrup. Braestrup is the chaplain for the Maine Warden Service and presents a personal story as well as situations and people she has met through her work.

To further illustrate the theme, programs have been planned that show other examples of people and organizations that are making a difference to people and places around the world. Shetterly’s project shows how other people have made a difference in his life, as well as how he has made a difference for others.

For more information about the One Book One Community program, visit the Web blog at www.oxfordhillsreads.blogspot.com.