The Big Read

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), announces the fifth deadline for The Big Read. The purpose of The Big Read is to revitalize the role of literature in American popular culture. Grants ranging from $5,000 - $20,000 are available to encourage local communities to inspire reading by developing and carrying out programming revolving around a single work of literature. Programming must be conducted between September 2009 and June 2010. This will be the only application deadline in 2009.

Big Read grants require the participation of a library as a lead applicant or a partner. Organizations selected to participate in The Big Read will receive:

*a grant
*financial support to attend a national orientation meeting
*educational and promotional materials for broad distribution
*an organizer’s guide for developing and managing Big Read activities
*guidance on working with local media
*inclusion of the organization and its activities on the Big Read Web site
*the prestige of participating in a highly visible national initiative

The deadline for proposals is February 3, 2009. Request for proposals can be downloaded at:
neabigread.org