I attended this afternoon's meeting of the Big Read libraries. The most important facts that need to be passed on are as follows:
1. Our book is Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand.
2. We will run the programs and book discussions in February and March 2006 and finish off with an event in early April.
3. I have committed Thomas Ford to designing and managing the website and to producing the press packet.
4. Nancy is the head of the book discussions committee, which is setting dates for the discussions and putting together questions for the discussion leaders.
5. We will steer away from programs that will attract hundreds of people and go for the smaller audience events, which may include some films or event that will also be run at other libraries.
The committee is working hard already to make all the arrangements. All the dates should be set in the next few weeks. During that time, Aaron and I have to come up with a website plan.
The funding discussion was interesting. Sheila Hope of Westmont is meeting with a bank to see if it will sponsor the program. She is also planning meetings with Lions Clubs (she may meet with one for each community) to see if they will fund the purchase of audiobooks and large print. She is planning to meet some Rotary groups as well. She has started talking to Arlington Race Track also to see what they might give us in terms of sponsorship or program speakers or prizes.
Depending on how much funding Sheila's committee can swing, we may have to ask our friends groups for help. I do not think this will be a problem, as I bet our friends would support a program or two and some materials.
There were many ideas for programs, some of which seemed a little far afield to me, but they might still be popular. (It was the Depression Glass program that seemed to have no connection to me.) The committee is narrowing them down in the next few weeks.
The next meeting of the full committee is at 1:30 on September 13 at the Downers Grove Library.