The Big Read addresses reading decline

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a federal government agency, recently announced that it will partner with the National Endowment for the Arts on the Big Read, a new national reading program designed to revitalize the role of reading in America, beginning in 2007.

Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America, a National Arts Endowment report, documented a dramatic decline in literary reading among all age groups, ethnic groups, and education levels. The report galvanized a national discussion. The Big Read was developed to help reverse this trend by giving citizens in more than 100 communities in all 50 states an opportunity to read and discuss great books. Each city or town that participates will host a community-wide read that involves collaborations with libraries, schools, local government, and the private sector.

The Institute will contribute $1 million in the first year of the national program, and cast America's libraries and librarians in a central role to encourage community participation. "We are delighted to be a partner in The Big Read," noted Dr. Anne-Imelda M. Radice, Director of the IMLS. "Libraries are information central in communities everywhere. Encouraging library participation will assure that the Big Read has big impact in cities and towns across the United States."

The Big Read will be administered by Arts Midwest, a regional arts agency based in Minneapolis. The partners invite cities and communities nationwide to participate. The Big Read will award grants generally ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 to more than 100 communities to conduct programs that encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment. To find out how your organization can submit a proposal to join the Big Read, see http://www.neabigread.org.

Last updated on 5/30/2006