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Big Read Accepting Applications for Next Grant CycleThe Big Read is accepting applications from nonprofit organizations to conduct month-long, community-wide reads between September 2010 and June 2011. The Big Read is a national program designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture. Organizations selected to participate in The Big Read will receive a grant ranging from $2,500 to $20,000, access to online training resources, educational and promotional materials, inclusion of your organization and activities on The Big Read website, and the prestige of participating in a highly visible national program. Approximately 75 organizations from across the country will be selected by a panel of experts. Recently, eight Indiana communities were among 269 nationwide selected to host Big Read celebrations between September 2009 and June 2010. Indiana libraries and nonprofits receiving Big Read Grants include the Culver-Union Township Public Library, University of Southern Indiana, New Castle-Henry County Public Library, Jennings County Public Library, Jackson County Public Library, Vigo County Public Library, Knox County Public Library, and Kosciusko Literacy Services, Inc. Check out The Big Read grant listing to view all recent grantees, including the grant amount and project book title. The Big Read, a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) initiative designed to restore reading to the center of American culture, provides grants each year to hundreds of organizations in communities of varying sizes across the country. The Big Read brings together partners, such as public libraries and community organizations, from across the nation to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment. Local programs last approximately one month and include a kick-off event; events devoted specifically to the book (panel discussions, lectures, public readings, etc.); events using the book as a point of departure (film screenings, theatrical readings, etc.); and book discussions in diverse locations and aimed at a wide range of audiences. Visit The Big Read website to download guidelines and application instructions. You can also contact The Big Read directly at (612) 238-8010 or TheBigRead@artsmidwest.org. The State Library is available to assist interested public libraries by reviewing your Big Read application and providing helpful suggestions and feedback. Please contact Virginia Vought at 317-234-6550 or vvought@library.in.gov to take advantage of this free service. Four Indiana Libraries Designated as Five-Star Libraries The Library Journal recently named 10 Indiana public libraries as Star Libraries. Four of these ten, Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library (EVPL), Spencer County Public Library, New Carlisle & Olive Township Public Library, and Bell Memorial Public Library, received top designation as being five-star libraries. EVPL was one of nine featured libraries in the November 15th issue. The ratings are based on the Library Journal Index of Public Library Service, which offers an overall indication of how a library’s performance stacks up to peer libraries with similar expenditures. The index measures four per capita areas that indicate public service - circulation, visits, program attendance, and public Internet use. The rankings are based on 2007 data reported by local libraries to their state library agencies. A total of 258 libraries received star rankings out of 7,268 included in the evaluation. Joining Indiana's five-star libraries were Allen County Public Library, Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library, Waterloo-Grant Township Public Library, Walton & Tipton Township Public Library, which were all named four-star libraries. Indiana also had two three-star libraries, St Joseph County Public Library and Monroe County Public Library. Special Thanks to Our Heroes' Tree Libraries The Indiana State Library would like to thank public libraries in 50 Indiana counties and the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University for making this year's Our Heroes' Tree Program another great success. The program is now being celebrated in libraries in 31 states and 9 countries, and will also be celebrated in schools, community centers, restaurants, and park places around the world! View Our Heroes' Tree on Facebook to view pictures and stories of the many celebrations in communities throughout Indiana. |