Alabama Big Read 2010 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. The Big Read brings together partners across the country to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment.

What is the Big Read? The Big Read answers a big need. Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America, a 2004 report by the National Endowment for the Arts, found that not only is literary reading in America declining rapidly among all groups, but that the rate of decline has accelerated, especially among the young. The Big Read aims to address this crisis squarely and effectively. It provides citizens with the opportunity to read and discuss a single book within their communities.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Mark Twain’s magical novel holds many themes that cross racial, gender, economic, and age lines. To promise not to do a thing is the surest way in the world to make a body want to go and do that very thing. – Tom Sawyer

Schedule of Events Online calendar www.neabigread.org More calendar links will be available from APLS and/or Alabama Center for the Book List of events, dates, times, and details of the event The elastic heart of youth cannot be compressed into one constrained shape long at a time.

National Partnerships

Local Partnerships Local businesses Schools (public, private, parochial, and home-schoolers) Local government and public officials State public officials Local funeral homes (bury illiteracy program) Civic organizations (men’s and women’s)

Local military bases and/or armories Other local libraries (academic and professional) Colleges and universities Local jails and prisons, including youth facilities Nursing homes, assisted living facilities Chamber of Commerce Use local geographic settings and natural settings to backdrop your events (rivers, caves, railroads, etc.)

Head Start programs Other early intervention youth services Historic sites, tourist attractions, museums, historical societies Already existing festivals, community events at that time of year Local theatrical groups and community theaters Sports associations/booster clubs Hardware stores/general stores

What Can Our Community Do? Be an ambassador Hospitality Ambassador Help schedule refreshments for every event Help “special guests” feel welcome at your library’s events Help organize volunteers at events Promotion Ambassador Help write announcements for newspapers Help send out invitations to events Help write wrap-up blurbs for newspapers Help contact TV stations and radio stations about events Help keep the community aware of the schedule of events

What Can Our Community Do? Dialogue Ambassador Help motivate people during table talks at discussion events Help keep guest speakers on target and involve the audience with the speaker Assist with book club events Education Ambassador Assist with school programs including leading group discussions with students and assisting teacher’s with program needs Assist with distribution of Readers’ Guides throughout your area

Use what you have to make what you need!

Have a successful Big Read! Measure your success by YOUR standards – not anyone else’s Be sure to include local politicians, educators, and community leaders Keep in touch with your State-wide Big Read committee members. They are here to help you succeed! Every library’s successes helps the entire state succeed!

WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER!

Huckleberry was cordially hated and dreaded by all the mothers of the town because he was idle, and lawless, and vulgar, and bad - and because all their children admired him so, and delighted in his forbidden society, and wished they dared to be like him.