The Big Read returns in November

The Lewis & Clark Library plans to host their 15th annual National Endowment for the Arts Big Read in November featuring the poetry book An American Sunrise by Joy Harjo.

"Big Read is a chance for the community to get together and read the same book and share their thoughts on that book and the ideas that they found, and have that shared community feeling of experiencing the same thing...and then getting together to talk about it," said Library Director John Finn, adding, "It is a program that is put on by the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. We're one of the very few organizations in the country that have had fifteen consecutive grants, and we're really proud of that. Suzanne Schwitchenberg, our Adult Services Librarian, makes that happen every year."

Each year, copies of the NEA Big Read title are made available to the community free of charge, in part through grant funding. This year, Schwitchenberg secured a $20,000 NEA grant, and copies of An American Sunrise are available at all Lewis & Clark Libraries, including Lincoln.

In addition to the Big Read title, the library selected companion books for younger patrons, and these are made available through funding from the Lewis & Clark Library Foundation.

"There are three Little Read titles. One for younger readers-it's a picture book, one for middle readers, and one for teens," said Finn. The selected titles are Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith, Indian No More by Charlene Willing McManis with Traci Sorell, and Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith.

The NEA Big Read series of events will kick off on Nov. 3, at 7 p.m., with a celebration of Native American poetry with Jennifer Elise Foerster, Mandy Smoker Broaddus, and Heather Cahoon. All programming for the NEA Big Read will be virtual, said Finn.

"Suzanne has done a great job of planning the virtual aspect. I think it will be fun to see some of these programs, especially the keynote address on November 22. Joy Harjo will talk about her book and answer questions, I'm sure," said Finn, adding that a benefit of virtual programming is the opportunity for people throughout the county to attend events.

"We try really hard in all Big Reads to reach out to the smaller communities for at least book groups and shared events. In this virtual world that we find ourselves in, anybody can join these programs, so I think folks in Lincoln or Augusta, they have that chance to join in on what we're doing here in Helena, as well," Finn said.

In addition to the kick-off and keynote address, the library is offering two workshops, one on poetry and the other a cowl knit-a-long using a pattern from Sisters United in Great Falls. Scheduled events list several lectures as well as six book discussions at a variety of times. All programs require pre-registration. More information can be found on the library website at http://www.lclibrary.org/306/The-Big-Read, and library staff can help answer questions about programs and registration.