"The Big Read" in Connecticut
- What is The Big Read?
- News
- Participating Connecticut Libraries, January-June 2008
- Calendar of Events
- Big Read Forum
What is The Big Read?
The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts, designed to restore reading to the center of American culture.
The Big Read provides citizens with the opportunity to read and discuss a single book within their communities. The initiative includes innovative reading programs in selected cities and towns, comprehensive resources for discussing classic literature, an ambitious national publicity campaign, and an extensive Web site providing comprehensive information on authors and their works.
Each community event lasts approximately one month and includes a kick-off event to launch the program locally, ideally attended by the mayor and other local luminaries; major events devoted specifically to the book (panel discussions, author reading, and the like); events using the book as a point of departure (film screenings, theatrical readings, and so forth); and book discussions in diverse locations and aimed at a wide range of audiences.
The National Endowment for the Arts presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest.
Big Read News
Approximately 300 organizations in communities of varying sizes across the country will be selected to participate in The Big Read from September 2008 through June 2009. The programming cycle has changed; The Big Read granting schedule is now on an annual basis.
To apply for The Big Read, you must submit an application online through The Big Read electronic eGRANT system, as well as submit a hard copy package of proposal materials. For complete application information and forms, visit www.neabigread.org.
Grant Timeline
- Intent to Apply (strongly encouraged) - due January 11, 2008
- Guidelines and Application - due February 12, 2008
- Notification of application status - late April 2008
Questions about the application process? Contact Arts Midwest:
Katie Kaufmann, 612-341-0755 ext. 50 or katie@artsmidwest.org or
Christine Taylor, 612-341-0755 ext. 21 or christine@artsmidwest.org
Participating Connecticut Libraries
The following communities will be conducting "Big Read" events during the period of January-June, 2008:
- City of Bridgeport: The Joy Luck Club
- Hartford Public Library: The Maltese Falcon
- New Haven International Festival of Arts & Ideas: Fahrenheit 451
- Kick-off will be May 1, 2008, with most programs talking place during the festival in June.
- New Haven Advocate article, 11/22/2007: Fahrenheit Fever!: The Big Read's on fire for 2008
- City of Norwalk: Fahrenheit 451
- The Norwalk Big Read kickoff will take place at the Festival of Words, April 5, 2008, at Norwalk Community College. This free Festival, now in its 5th year, has grown to be a highly-recognized multicultural event which celebrates reading and the literary arts in the heart of Fairfield County. This year, the Norwalk Public Library and the Festival of Words will continue its cooperative programs celebrating reading throughout the Big Read campaign from kickoff to June 30, 2008.
- Norwalk's Big Read 2008
- The Norwalk Big Read kickoff will take place at the Festival of Words, April 5, 2008, at Norwalk Community College. This free Festival, now in its 5th year, has grown to be a highly-recognized multicultural event which celebrates reading and the literary arts in the heart of Fairfield County. This year, the Norwalk Public Library and the Festival of Words will continue its cooperative programs celebrating reading throughout the Big Read campaign from kickoff to June 30, 2008.
Big Read Calendar of Events
CLC has created a "Big Read in Connecticut" calendar that combines all Big Read-related events at libraries and other institutions across the state. The calendar is available in three formats for your convenience:
 | Subscribe to the calendar via RSS feed | |
 | Download the calendar into your calendar program (eg., Google Calendar, iCal) | |
 | View the calendar on the Web in HTML (This link will open a larger version of the calendar you see here.) |
Big Read Forum
New for 2008! CLC has set up a Greater New Haven "Big Read" forum for program planners to post their Big Read events, submit program ideas, and connect with other sponsors reading the same book. Anyone may read postings; only subscribers may post. Visit the forum, or enter your email into the box below to become a subscriber.
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| Subscribe to the Greater New Haven "Big Read" |
| Visit this group |