Sunday, April 6, 2008

THE BIG READ COMES TO MONROE COUNTY! (City of Rochester News Release - 03/24/2008)

The Big Read is coming to Rochester. The Monroe County Library System is inviting everyone to read Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and participate in numerous events that will be taking place at the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County, city branches, and town libraries from April 13-May 31.  Copies are available at Monroe County libraries.

The Big Read is an initiative from the National Endowment for the Arts to encourage lapsed readers to start reading again.  Most of us are born wanting to read but as we grow up there is less and less time to read and many just stop reading anything for the pure enjoyment of it.  The program aims to remind everyone of the joys of reading.  Over 100 communities from around the country have already participated in the program.

The program will begin on April 13th with a “Set Your Mind on Fire:  The Big Read Kick-Off” celebration.  Mayor Duffy and other local dignitaries will be on hand to start the event.  The Genesee Valley Storytellers will entertain the younger set in the Children’s Center’s Secret Room.  A group from the Eastman School of Music will perform.  The Friends of the Library will be offering a simple book-making project in front of the Library Store.  But that is only the beginning of six weeks of programs!

From April 14-May 31st there will be speakers, film presentations, Random Acts of Reading, book reviews and of course, book discussions. On May 4th, Thomas Olson will present “Gutenberg and the Invention of Print:  Revolution or Evolution.  Julie Wosk will discuss “Alluring Androids and Robots in Film, Photography and Art on May 13th.  Authors will discuss having their books banned.  And there will be a tour of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Collection at the Rush Rhees Library at the University of Rochester.

See www.libraryweb.org for a complete listing of events.

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