The Big Read, a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) initiative designed to restore reading to the center of American culture, provides guidelines for their next grant cycle for programs running between September 2009 and June 2010. Approximately 400 organizations in communities of varying sizes across the country will be selected to participate in The Big Read during this cycle. The Big Read brings together partners, such as public libraries and community organizations, from across the nation to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment.
Recently, four Indiana communities were among 208 nationwide selected to host Big Read celebrations between September 2008 and June 2009. Indiana libraries and nonprofits receiving Big Read Grants include: The Columbus Area Arts Council, which received a $3,000 grant and will feature the book, Bless Me, Ultima; the New Castle-Henry County Public Library received $8,000 and will feature Fahrenheit 451; the Vigo County Public Library (Terre Haute) received $15,000 and will feature The Call of the Wild; and Kosciusko Literacy Services, Inc. (Warsaw) received $20,000 and will feature The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
Local programs last approximately one month and include a kick-off event; events devoted specifically to the book (panel discussions, lectures, public readings, etc.); events using the book as a point of departure (film screenings, theatrical readings, etc.); and book discussions in diverse locations and aimed at a wide range of audiences. Applicants may apply for grants ranging from $2,500 to $20,000. Generally, grant size will be determined based on community population, number of activities planned, and strength of application. Applications can be submitted online.
The State Library is available to assist interested public libraries by reviewing your Big Read application and providing helpful suggestions and feedback. Please contact Amy Holliday at 317-234-6550 or aholliday@library.IN.gov if you would like to take advantage of this free service.
About the Big Read
The Big Read is an NEA initiative 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 is provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. For further details about The Big Read visit http://www.neabigread.org.
LEUs AVAILABLE THROUGH FREE SOLINET WORKSHOPS THIS JANUARY
Certified library professionals have an opportunity to earn up to 12 free LEUs by attending SOLINET workshops this January. Librarians of all types (special, school, academic, etc.) are welcome to register for these technology-based workshops.
The following workshops will be available twice in January:
Cataloging Visual Materials and Electronic Resources (6 General LEUs):
This one-day class covers the MARC fields and AACR2 rules that apply to visual materials (including moving images, two-dimensional images and three-dimensional objects) and electronic resources (including computer software, games and eBooks).
Dates & Locations:
1/29/2009 – Jackson County Public Library
1/30/2009 – Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library
What’s Next? Planning for Tomorrow’s Technology Trends in Libraries (6 Technology LEUs):
In a world where “fresh off the shelves” and “obsolete” have become synonymous, keeping abreast of the latest technology trends for libraries has become all the more critical. How can a library expect to make sound decisions regarding the tools needed to serve today’s and tomorrow’s patrons? This class will explore what’s happening in the ever-changing world of technology for libraries and discuss some basic guidelines for how libraries might make decisions to serve their patrons.
Dates & Locations:
1/22/2009 – Lawrenceburg Public Library
1/23/2009 – Indiana State Library (waiting list only)
Limited seating is available for three of the four workshops. Please act quickly to reserve your spot today. To sign up for a workshop, visit WebJunction Indiana’s online calendar.
Have reference questions? Call the State Library’s Reference Hotline at 866-683-0008 or submit questions online through eReference
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