HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-02-2008 - 3bORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: September 2, 2008
Action Agenda
Item No. ~~
SUBJECT: Proclamation for Library Grant Award -Big Read
DEPARTMENT: Library PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Proclamation Brenda Stephens, Director, 245-2528
PURPOSE: To consider approving a proclamation designating October 2008 as Big Read
month and to promote acommunity-wide literacy program featuring The Grapes of Wrath by
John Steinbeck.
BACKGROUND: The Library, participating with the North Central Piedmont Literacy
Collaborative comprised of Hyconeechee Regional Libraries, Piedmont Community College,
Orange County Schools, Person County Schools, and Caswell County Schools, has applied
and received the Big Read Grant from NEA (National Endowment for the Arts). The Big Read
is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to revitalize the role of literary
reading in American popular culture. Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America,
a 2004 NEA report, identified a critical decline in reading for pleasure among American adults
The Big Read aims to address this issue directly by providing individuals with the opportunity to
read and discuss a single book within their communities.
The grant was awarded to the collaborative to present acommunity-wide literacy program
featuring The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. The collaborative will provide programming,
materials and books to the public for free during the grant timeline of September 13th through
October 30th
The Big Read kick-off for all participants will take place at the Rock of Ages Winery on
Saturday, Sept 13th. The Rock of Ages is a transformed tobacco farm to a winery and
vineyard located on Charlie Long Road in Person County near the Orange/Person county
line. This event will include invitations to the communities in Orange, Caswell and
Person counties to read, think about, and discuss The Grapes of Wrath. The keynote
speaker is Susan G. Shillinglaw, Scholar in Residence -National Steinbeck Center, and
invitations to attend have been sent to area Mayors, Boards of County Commissioners,
School district officials, the Assistant Secretary for the US. Department of Education,
Congressman, State Representatives and State Senators. Activities will include
proclamations from local government officials, musical entertainment from the 1930's
era, old cars and tractor show.
Orange County Library will hold akick-off celebration on Wednesday, Sept 17tH at 6pm.
Greg Hanson and John Bemis of "Hooverville" will play old-time music originating in the
Depression era -Woody Guthrie songs such as "OI' Dan Tucker", & "Chicken Reel" will
be featured. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is the Big Read book, and there
will be free copies available for the public. The public will be encouraged to bring non-
perishable food items to support families in need in Orange County, which will be
donated to OCIM (Orange Congregations in Mission). A donation of five non perishable
food items & the library will waive up to $10.00 of overdue fines. Attendees will be able
to sign up for FREE library cards and listen to some good ole time music at the Orange
County Public Library.
Orange County Library will host `An American Girl Party' on Wednesday, September 24tH
at 3:30 pm. This is an after-school program for ages 6-12. Participants can celebrate
the Big Read through a fun program with Depression era snacks, games, crafts and
more and can dress up in Depression era garb and step back in time with "Kitt
Kittredge~An American Girl".
• Orange County Library will host "Art of the Depression Era for Teens" on Thursday,
October Stn at 4pm with Richard Cloudt, cartoonist and artist who will teach a workshop
on Depression Era Art in America. Mr. Cloudt will discuss fine art, including the Harlem
Renaissance, Illustration (Norman Rockwell), and Cartoons including Superman, Li'I
Abner and more.
Orange County Library will invite local residents to join an author discussion on Tuesday,
October 14tH at 7pm. The discussion of the month's book club selection will be The Big
Read: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. A local author will lead the discussion of
Depression era themes in the book, and how they relate to current issues of
unemployment, hunger and homelessness in our community.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Activities are based on the Big Read grant award of $20,000 to the
collaborative. All members of the collaborative are contributing to provide matching funds
through in-kind contributions, book purchases, and programming fees. In Orange County, the
matching contribution is provided in part by the operational budget of the Library and donations
from the Friends of the Library.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the proclamation
and authorize the Chair to sign.
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE OCTOBER 2008 AS BIG READ MONTH
Whereas, the Orange County Library has joined in partnership with the National
Endowment for the Arts and Arts Midwest to conduct the BIG READ, a campaign
inviting all Orange County residents to come together to read and discuss John
Steinbeck's classic novel, "The Grapes of Wrath", and
Whereas, the BIG READ is an opportunity for the Orange County Library to also
enlist Orange County Schools, Durham Technical Community College -Orange
County Campus, Piedmont Community College, and other local civic,
educational, and cultural institutions to explore the themes and topics portrayed
in "The Grapes of Wrath", and
Whereas, reading and discussing a good book is an easy and welcome way to
bring residents together, break down the barriers that may divide, and ultimately.
build a stronger, better informed populace, and
Whereas, reading and discussing a good book also helps enlighten, educate,
inform, and encourage people to strengthen contributions to the economic,
cultural, and social fabric of community life;
Now Therefore, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby
proclaim the month of October as BIG READ month in Orange County, and seek
to engage and inspire widespread participation in reading "The Grapes of Wrath"
from September 13, 2008 through October 30, 2008.
This the 2nd day of September 2008.
Barry Jacobs, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners