More about Fremont Public Library's Big Read Program

The National Endowment for the Arts, NEA, has awarded the Fremont Public Library a grant to host Big Read programs in 2008. Friends of the Fremont Public Library also are supporting the library's Big Read project. The selected community read is the American classic My Antonia by Willa Cather. The library is most appreciative of the great generosity of the Friends of the library in supporting our Big Read project. Our Big Read activities will take place from April 14 through May 31, 2008.

A kick-off celebration will be held on Monday, April 14, 2008. This coincides with the celebration of National Library Week. Noted actress and Cather scholar Betty Jean Steinshouer will perform her one-woman show Willa Cather Speaks. Illinois folksinger Lee Murdock will perform traditional American music on Monday May 5 at 7:00 p.m. Illinois folksinger Mark Dvorak will perform his original program, The People Yes, on Monday, May 12 at 7:00 p.m. The People Yes is based on Carl Sandburg's work. The library's BookMarkers group will discuss My Antonia on Tuesday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m. Library staff will read the novel on its podcast during the months of April and May. The staff also will conduct this interactive blog. Later we will be posting information about Willa Cather as well as questions about the book on this blog.

All our activities are free and open to the public. Copies of the book and readers' guides will be available at the library. Please contact Marie Zahnle, Big Read Program Coordinator,at 847-918-3222, with your ideas. We welcome your suggestions. Please consider having your book group read My Antonia during April and May.

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.