National Endowment for the Arts Launches The Big Read
On May 9, at Carnegie Hall in New York City, Dana Gioia, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), announced a new national reading program, The Big Read, designed to revitalize the role of reading in American public culture. NEA is launching The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
Over the course of Millrace Books' 35 years on the banks of the Farmington River in Farmington, Connecticut, owner Jan Owens has always "made use of what we've got," that is, she often incorporates the river in book events and even displays -- there's a large picture window that overlooks the water and an island. For the store's 35th anniversary, however, Owens involved her entire community.