Big Read 2012 Recap
The Big Read at the Alachua County Library District was a month of more than 25 events celebrating A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin. In 2012, The Big Read, a program designed by the National Endowment of the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest to restore reading to the center of American culture, will host programs in 76 communities across the country.
In April, ACLD presented programs for children, teens, adults and fantasy and science fiction readers of all ages. Events were hosted by many library branches as well as at local schools, the Civic Media Center, the University of Florida Ustler Center for Women’s Studies & Gender Research, UF Levin College of Law, and Wild Iris Books.
At the Kickoff and during an interview on WGOT 94.7 Low Power FM, Stephanie Smith gave us a glimpse into Ursula K. Le Guin’s writing and life. We explored the worlds, works and legacy of Ursula K. Le Guin with faculty from the University of Florida Center for Women’s Studies and Gender Research, Department of English, Department of Classics, and the Levin College of Law. Filmmaker Arwen Curry showed clips of her in-process documentary at Headquarters and Tower Road and talked with Hank Conner on Conner Colling on Florida’s 89.1 WUFT FM.
During Alchemy and Magic, kids turned to copper into gold and silver with the Cade Museum for Creativity + Invention’s Program Director Patty Lipka. We drew dragons at the Archer Branch, created fantasy maps at Millhopper Branch, and The Big Read Art Exhibition showcased the works of artists ages 10 to 18 at Headquarters. Youth wrote poems and stories for The Big Read Writing Contest. Fantasy author Meredith Ann Pierce led the Young Writer’s Workshop at Headquarters and did presentations on how to become a published author at Kanapaha Middle School.
We talked about A Wizard of Earthsea, Ursula K. Le Guin’s other works and their cultural and political impact. Teens at Hawthorne, Newberry, Headquarters and Millhopper pointed to video games using ideas inspired by Earthsea and decided that Ged’s Shadow was scarier than zombies. Teachers at local schools led discussions about A Wizard of Earthsea. Classics professor Jennifer Rea compared Le Guin’s Lavinia with Vergil’s Aeneid. Travis Fristoe, Meredith Ann Pierce, and Stephanie Smith discussed Earthsea, read-a-likes and other great Fantasy and Science Fiction. And Wild Iris Books helped wrap up The Big Read by hosting a social that included readings by Meredith Ann Pierce, Stephanie Smith and music by Dirty Fist.
Thank You!
The Alachua County Library District would like to thank our community partners, our staff and volunteers, our presenters, business that provided refreshments, local media and our patrons for helping make The Big Read a success.
Writing and Art Contests
Thanks to the participation of over 80 teens, their families, and teachers, both of The Big Read contests were great successes. Please check out the work of our Writing Contest Winners and Art Contest Participants.
