By JOHN Y. COLE
In cooperation with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), on July 20, the Library of Congress hosted a celebration of "The Big Read," a national program that provides citizens with an opportunity to read and discuss a single book within their communities. Sponsored by NEA, "The Big Read" is designed to revitalize the role of literature in the nation's popular culture, and to bring the transformative power of literature into the lives of its citizens.
In his welcoming remarks, Deputy Librarian of Congress Donald L. Scott noted that the Library of Congress was the most "appropriate place imaginable" for highlighting a program with the ambitious goal of "restoring the art and pleasure of reading to a central place in American culture."
Laura Bush, honorary chair of "The Big Read," opened her remarks by pointing with pride to the National Book Festival, which she has co-sponsored since the first festival in 2001 in partnership with the Library—the event's organizer and sponsor.
"Over the last five years, the festival has brought hundreds of thousands of people to Washington to meet their favorite authors," she said. "This year, the National Book Festival will be held on Saturday, Sept. 30, here on the National Mall, and I invite each and every one of you to join us."
NEA Chairman Dana Gioia announced that more than 100 communities throughout the nation will participate in "The Big Read" in 2007. "We hope the program will reawaken the public's passion for the pleasures of reading," said Gioia.
Other remarks were presented by Anne-Imelda M. Radice, director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which is supporting "The Big Read" with $1 million in the first year of the program.
Three members of Congress offered brief readings from their favorite books: Rep. Charles H. Taylor (R-N.C.) ("Look Homeward Angel" by Thomas Wolfe), Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (D-N.Y.) ("To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee) and Sen. Norman Coleman (R-Minn.) ("The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald). Author Ray Bradbury delivered a video greeting in which he emphasized the importance of libraries.
"The Big Read" initiative encourages literary reading by asking communities to come together to read and discuss specific classic novels selected by the NEA and project advisers. In addition to direct grants, the NEA offers a variety of resource and promotion materials to support each community project that is selected. For more information about the project and grant applications, visit www.neabigread.org.
Three state centers for the book were among the 10 organizations that received "Big Read" pilot grants in December 2005 to host programs held in the spring of 2006. The Arkansas Center for the Book selected "The Great Gatsby," and programming throughout the state included theater presentations, book club discussions, Spanish-language programs, film presentations and library-based luncheon series with lectures and dramatic readings. In partnership with the Florida Center for Literary Arts, the Florida Center for the Book hosted a community-wide read of "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury. The South Dakota Center for the Book targeted Sioux Falls and the surrounding suburban communities to celebrate the literary arts by reading and discussing "To Kill a Mockingbird."
"The Big Read" represents an expansion of the "One Book" community reading and discussion initiative that has been popular in the United States since the late 1990s. Librarian Nancy Pearl, who initiated "One Book" at the Seattle Public Library in 1998, serves on the Readers Circle—the Big Read's group of advisers—as does Librarian of Congress James H. Billington. "The Big Read" projects will be listed on the Center for the Book Web site (www.loc.gov/cfbook/) along with the more than 400 "One Book" reading promotion projects that are listed by state and community, as well as author and title.
John Y. Cole is director of the Center for the Book.