SOKY Book Fest Partnership Receives 'Big Read' Grant From NEA

June 18, 2008

Bowling Green, Ky. - The partners of the Southern Kentucky Book Fest have received a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to host The Big Read in Bowling Green and the surrounding region.

The Big Read gives communities the opportunity to come together to read, discuss, and celebrate one of 23 selections from American and world literature.

The Big Read in Bowling Green will focus on the classic book “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. Kickoff activities will take place in the fall. Other activities will be held throughout February 2009, temporarily replacing the One Book reading event that the SOKY Book Fest partnership currently presents.

“The partnership is so excited to take part in this national program to restore reading to the center of American culture,” said Tracy Harkins, community outreach manager for Western Kentucky University Libraries. “We will be matching the grant funds from the NEA to give away more than 1000 copies of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ and provide programs in a variety of venues.”

Bowling Green Public Library Director Lisa Rice said: “We are especially interested in reaching nontraditional and reluctant readers with this enlightening coming of age novel about tolerance and justice.”

SOKY Book Fest is one of 208 organizations nationwide and five in Kentucky to receive a grant to host The Big Read during the upcoming academic year. To date, the NEA has given more than 500 grants to support local Big Read projects. For more information about The Big Read, visit www.neabigread.org.

SOKY Book Fest is a partnership project of WKU Libraries, Bowling Green Public Library, and Barnes and Noble booksellers. For information, visit www.sokybookfest.org or contact Tracy Harkins at (270) 745-5016.
               
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For information, contact Tracy Harkins at (270) 745-5016.