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THE BIG READ KICKS OFF JAN. 31ST!
The Big Read kickoff: 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31; Coralville Winterfest, Coralville Marriott
What better way to spend a cold winter day or night than curled up with a good book? The Big Read will kick off at Coralville’s Winterfest on January 31st. Come find out about the program and pick up a free copy of “Fahrenheit 451.” There will be events and activities throughout Johnson County running through the beginning of March.

FAHRENHEIT 451
When did science fiction first cross over from genre writing to the mainstream of American literature? Almost certainly it happened on October 19, 1953, when a young Californian named Ray Bradbury published a novel with the odd title of “Fahrenheit 451.” In a gripping story at once disturbing and poetic, Bradbury takes the materials of pulp fiction and transforms them into a visionary parable of a society gone awry, in which firemen burn books and the state suppresses learning. Meanwhile, the citizenry sits by in a drug-induced and media-saturated indifference. More relevant than ever a half-century later, “Fahrenheit 451″ has achieved the rare distinction of being both a literary classic and a perennial bestseller.

For more on The Big Read, including videos and radio programs on “Fahrenheit 451,” visit ICPL’s Big Read Web page.

READ, VIEW, DISCUSS
A variety of locations are available to get a free copy of the book. Book discussions will be held throughout Johnson County, so you can share your thoughts with others in the community. You’ll also be able to see some classic Ray Bradbury movies while you’re at it! On February 26 at 7 p.m., enjoy a keynote presentation by Dr. Olga Petrova, Assistant Professor of English, Kirkwood Community College, and see excerpts from the play performed by City Circle Acting Company! All events are free and open to the public.

ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS

BOOK DISCUSSIONS
Wednesday, Feb. 3; 11 – 12 p.m. Kirkwood Community College, Iowa City
Thursday, Feb. 4; 5 p.m. Pheasant Ridge Neighborhood
Tuesday, Feb. 9; 6 p.m. Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center
Tuesday, Feb. 9; 6:30 p.m. North Liberty Community Library
Wednesday, Feb. 10; 11 – 12 p.m. Kirkwood Community College, Iowa City
Tuesday, Feb. 16; 7 p.m. Iowa City Public Library
Wednesday, Feb. 17; 11 – 12 p.m. Kirkwood Community College, Iowa City
Sunday, Feb. 21; 3 p.m. Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center
Tuesday, Feb. 23; 2 p.m. E. Jean Schwab Auditorium, Coralville Public Library
Wednesday, Feb. 24; 11 – 12 p.m. Kirkwood Community College, Iowa City
Wednesday, March 3; 10 a.m. Discussion in Spanish with Senior Center Spanish Language Class

SPECIAL EVENTS
Sunday, Jan. 31; 1-4 p.m. Coralville Winterfest — The Big Read kickoff; Coralville Marriott
Tuesday, Feb. 23; 12-1 p.m. Panel Discussion: Ray Bradbury & His Impact on Science Fiction, Iowa City Public Library
Wednesday, Feb. 24; 1:30 p.m. Senior Standing Room Only (SSRO) Readers Theatre performance, A Voice of My Own, Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center
Friday, Feb. 26; 7 p.m. Keynote Presentation by Olga Petrova, and performance of excerpts from the play, Fahrenheit 451, by City Circle Acting Company, Englert Civic Theatre
Wednesday, March 3; 7 p.m. Senior Standing Room Only (SSRO) Readers Theatre performance, A Voice of My Own, Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center

FILM SCREENINGS
Friday, February 5; 6 p.m. North Liberty Community Library; Fahrenheit 451
Friday, February 5; 7 p.m. Meeting Room A, Iowa City Public Library; It Came From Outer Space
Thursday, February 11; 2 – 4:30 p.m. Meeting Room AB, Coralville Public Library; The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms
Friday, February 12; 7 p.m. Meeting Room A, Iowa City Public Library; Something Wicked This Way Comes
Friday, February 19; 7 p.m. Meeting Room A, Iowa City Public Library; The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms

WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE?
Join your friends and neighbors as we read Ray Bradbury’s classic novel, “Fahrenheit 451,” together in February 2010. The Iowa City Public Library is participating in The Big Read with many community organizations including Summer of the Arts and the Public Libraries of Johnson County.
Towards the end of “Fahrenheit 451,” the main character Montag, who has been a “Fireman” in the book (someone who burns books), realizes a life without books may not be worth living. He escapes from the City and is “rescued” by other like-minded people who could not imagine a world without books. Each has memorized a book in order to preserve it for future generations. They ask Montag, “What have you to offer?”
If you were faced with the decision to take one book and preserve it for the future, which book would you choose? Head to the Library’s first and second floor displays in January and February 2010 to see a display of the books Iowa City Public Library Staff would choose and to include your book in our display. You can also read how some of the staff from the Iowa City Public Library answered this question by visiting our Big Read Web page.

BIG READ PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
Summer of the Arts
Iowa City Public Library
Coralville Public Library
Public Libraries of Johnson County
Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center
Iowa City Community School District
Kirkwood Community College
City Circle Acting Company
Oakdale Department of Corrections

Funded in part by the Burford/Schwab fund at the Community Foundation of Johnson County.

SUMMER OF THE ARTS
Summer of the Arts (SotA) has become widely recognized as an organization that puts on free festivals in downtown Iowa City throughout the summer. In the past two years, SotA has started to branch out to support other arts organizations and provide additional year-round programming in the Iowa City area. In 2009, SotA started a new tradition by bringing Sand in the City® to the streets of downtown Iowa City. The Big Read is another opportunity to reach out to the community, partner with other area businesses and non-profits and host an event that truly is fitting of our City of Literature designation.
P.O. Box 3128
Iowa City, IA 52244-3128
Tel: 319-337-7944
Fax: 319-358-9094

www.summerofthearts.org
www.icpl.org/the-big-read
www.neabigread.org

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and bring the transformative power of literature into the lives of its citizens. The Big Read brings together partners across the country to encourage citizens to read for pleasure and enlightenment.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 2:02 pmand is filed under Book Discussions, Community News, Displays, The Big Read. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.