TOPEKA — The State Library of Kansas has announced the eighth annual Kansas Reads, one-book/one-state reading and discussion project. This year’s selection, “Bleeding Kansas” by Sara Paretsky, relates to the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. While Bleeding Kansas is a contemporary novel, its title appropriately alludes to the Bleeding Kansas era of the 1850s.

Kansas Reads: Bleeding Kansas kicks off today and runs through March 20. Part of the project will feature scholar-led book discussions at Kansas City Kansas Public Library–Wyandotte Branch, Augusta Public Library, Dodge City Public Library, Atchison Public Library and Salina Public Library.

Author Sara Paretsky also will host a book discussion through an interactive Twitter chat at 7 p.m. March 11 using the hashtag #ksreads.

This year’s title is available in a variety of formats as well as book discussion kits. For details on how you can participate in this reading and discussion project, stop by your local library or visit www.kcfb.info/ksreads2014.html.

Kansas Reads: Bleeding Kansas is supported by the Kansas Humanities Council, a nonprofit cultural organization dedicated to promoting humanities programs across Kansas. Find out more at www.kansashumanities.org.