The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) continued its drive toward making the Big Read the largest federal reading program in U.S. history, announcing today that the Parker County partnership among Weatherford College; Weatherford ISD; the City of Weatherford Public Library and the Doss Heritage and Culture Center is one of 127 libraries, municipalities, and arts, culture, higher education and science organizations to receive a grant to host a Big Read celebration of one of 16 classic novels from January-June 2008. The NEA launched the Big Read nationally in 2007 in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest.

The latest Big Read grantees represent 38 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The NEA inaugurated the Big Read as a pilot project with 10 communities in 2006. By 2009, approximately 400 communities in the U.S. will have hosted a Big Read since the program’s launch.

“We are honored, we are thrilled, and we are delighted to have been selected for this prestigious grant,” said Linda Bagwell, Weatherford College director of communications and public relations, who will serve as the Parker County Reads Together project director. “Parker County is one of only eight communities in Texas to have been selected, and that, in itself, is a tremendous honor and achievement. We have many exciting plans for activities and events that will bring our community together as we read and discuss and celebrate Willa Cather’s My Ántonia, a book we chose from the list because it has many significant themes relative to our area.”

Dale Fleeger, the city library’s director; Charlotte Lagrone, community relations coordinator from the Weatherford ISD; and Ann Saunders from the Doss Heritage and Culture Center also have leadership roles in the Parker County Reads Together partnership. The Steering Committee is made up of more than a dozen community leaders. More will be invited to join in the planning and implementation for the spring activities. The entire Parker County area, including Weatherford, Aledo, Springtown and Azle, will be invited to participate in reading My Ántonia and all the events and activities scheduled April 15 through May 14, 2008.

“In just two years, the Big Read has grown from 10 communities to include nearly 200 towns and cities nationwide. Although each of these communities celebrates its Big Read program in its own way, one theme we consistently hear back is that the Big Read is not just bringing citizens back to the joy of reading, but also reinvigorating the very idea of community,” said NEA Chairman Dana Gioia. “I am delighted to announce the newest round of Big Read communities in this program, which is about so much more than reading.”

The organizations selected to participate in the Big Read for the first half of 2008 will receive grants ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 to promote and carry out community-based programs, with the proviso of raising matching funds on their own. Parker County Reads Together was awarded $7,500. Participating cities and towns also receive reader’s guides and teacher’s guides for each novel, audio guides that also can be used as radio programming, publicity materials, an online organizer’s guide for running a successful Big Read program, and access to a comprehensive Big Read Web site. Each local program will include events, such as read-a-thons, book discussions, film screenings, and library and museum exhibits, aimed at avid and lapsed or reluctant readers alike.

"The Big Read is reaching across state and international borders," said Dr. Anne-Imelda Radice, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the NEA's lead federal partner for the Big Read. "As director of the IMLS, the federal agency that funds libraries and museums, I am pleased to support this initiative that is creating a new generation of readers. The sky is truly the limit with this partnership."

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The Big Read brings together partners across the country to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment. The next Big Read application deadline is February 12, 2008, for communities wishing to host a Big Read from September 2008-June 2009. For more information on the Big Read, including program FAQs, the complete list of Big Read novels, and application deadlines, please visit www.neabigread.org.

A listing of all the Big Read grants awarded for programming in January-June 2008 is also available at www.neabigread.org .

“The success of this huge endeavor will depend on the strong partnerships and relationships we all share in our community,” said Bagwell. “We will be asking for a lot of help and support as we begin the planning for Parker County Reads Together, and once we get the word out, I know we will have the whole community jumping on the bandwagon. What a tremendous opportunity this will be for our community as we read and share in activities and events around such a beautiful classic literary work. Watch for more information in the coming months!”