The selection process includes a spectrum of representatives from MSU and the City of East Lansing who read and evaluate the merits of numerous selections. Among the criteria they consider are:

• a work by a major author who is available to visit the city and campus
• a reading complexity appropriate for college students and community members
• relevant themes and issues suitable to group discussion and analysis
• a topic of relevance and appeal to both young adults and the general community
• a subject that lends itself to community-university programming and special activities