Big Read - 2010

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Alert from ALA Direct: Time to apply for The Big Read
The Institute of Museum and Library Services, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and Arts Midwest, announces the 2010 deadline for The Big Read, a program to revitalize the role of literature in American culture. Organizations may apply for grants ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 with the grant size determined by community population, number of activities planned, and artistic excellence and merit. The proposal deadline is February 2, 2010....
Institute of Museum and Library Services, Nov. 13

Big Read grants require the participation of a library as a lead applicant or a partner. Grant funds, which must be matched with nonfederal funds, may be used for such expenses as book purchases, speaker fees and travel, salaries, advertising, and venue rental. How can school libraries benefit from this grant? See book choices at http://neabigread.org/guidelines.php

• If book choices agree with summer reading or other school lists, would this be a good public-school collaboration?
• PR tools and educational resources look good. See the following list.
• Reader’s Guides: 16-page booklets containing an introduction to the featured book or poet, historical context, background of the writer, information about related works, and discussion questions.
• Spanish translations of Reader’s Guides: Available for In the Time of Butterflies; Bless Me, Ultima; Fahrenheit 451; The Maltese Falcon; Sun, Stone, and Shadows: 20 Great Mexican Short Stories; To Kill a Mockingbird; The Call of the Wild; The Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe; The Grapes of Wrath; and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
• Teacher’s Guides: 20-page booklets containing lesson plans and other teacher resources for high schools or middle schools that can be used in the classroom and/or by the school library media specialist.
• Audio Guides: 30-minute CDs featuring interviews with notable literary and public figures about the book for radio promotion and classroom use; for the poetry selections, 20-minute CDs containing readings of poems.
• Banners, posters, and bookmarks for promotional and marketing purposes.
• Web site: Participating community organizations also contribute to www.NEABigRead.org.

Middle and high school partnerships are essential to meeting the goals of The Big Read. Applicant organizations are encouraged partner with local middle and/or high schools, working with school leaders, such as teachers, school librarians, English department chairs, principals, superintendents, or curriculum specialists. Partner schools should be capable of integrating The Big Read materials in classrooms and/or involving students in school-based Big Read activities. Applicant organizations should also develop program plans to involve students in community-based programming.