Plains library participates in grant
The Plains Public LibraryDistrict, in conjunction with the Lincoln County Public Libraries, today announced that it has received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to host The Big Read in Lincoln and Sanders counties. The Lincoln County Public Libraries and their partners are one of 75 not-for-profits—including arts and cultural organizations; libraries; and universities—to receive a grant to host a Big Read project between Sept. 2010 and June 2011. The Big Read gives communities the opportunity to come together to read, discuss, and celebrate one of 31 selections from U.S. and world literature. The Lincoln County Libraries have participated in two previous sessions of The Big Read. This year, the libraries have partnered with two Sanders County libraries, the Plains Public Library District and the Thompson Falls Public Library, for an even more exciting experience. The Big Read in Lincoln and Sanders Counties will focus on the stories and poems of Edgar Allan Poe, with activities scheduled to take place in Oct. and Nov. 2010.
Since the 2006 pilot program with 10 participating organizations, the NEA has given more than 800 grants to support local Big Read projects.
“We are honored to have been chosen for another Big Read grant and look forward to partnering with the Thompson Falls Public Library and the District,” Lincoln County Libraries Director Sami Pierson said. “We have had wonderful experiences with this program in previous years and are excited to hear what people have to say about Poe’s work.”
“The arts in general — and literature, in particular — often serve as an expression of our shared values. This is exactly why they are so effective as a fulcrum for community engagement,” NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman said. “Thanks to these 75 grants, communities nationwide will be inspired, delighted and challenged by a book they are discovering for the first time, or an old favorite to which they are returning.”
The selected organizations will receive Big Read grants ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 to promote and carry out community-based reading programs featuring activities such as read-a-thons, book discussions, lectures, movie screenings, and performing arts events. Participating communities also receive high-quality, free-of-charge educational materials to supplement each title, including readers, teachers, and audio guides.
“IMLS is proud to support The Big Read, a national program that brings communities together to read and discuss books,” acting director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services Marsha L. Semmel said. “Through this program, libraries and museums are playing critical roles in reading partnerships across the country.”
The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. Support for The Big Read has been provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the Boeing Company, the Poetry Foundation, and the Ford Motor Company.