A National Initiative Sparks Reading Events Throughout South County

Somewhere along the road of human development, between the invention of technological entertainment and today, books have earned the disheartening status of “obsolete.” In 2004, the National Endowment for the Arts released a study that shows that not only is the amount of recreational reading among Americans - in every age group - declining, but it’s declining at a faster pace than ever before. The first question that comes to mind here is “why?” Why do so many of us choose to watch a television show or movie rather than read a book? I can’t remember ever walking out of a movie theater without overhearing someone say “The book was so much better,” or “They left out the best parts,” and it’s no secret that Julia Child’s Mastering The Art of French Cooking can never be replaced by an episode of 30 Minute Meals, so why? The second question that comes to mind, of course, is “how can it be fixed?” Shortly after conducting this study, the National Endowment for the Arts started working on a program called The Big Read. The Big Read is meant to revitalize the act of reading in the American home by making it a social event.

The Big Read will support non-profit organizations in hosting events that encourage reading. One of the 77 selected organizations is the Tomaquag Museum. Now through June 2014, the Tomaquag Museum will be hosting events centered around the book Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich, a widely acclaimed Native American author. Some of the events will include book discussions, readings, artistic response programs and cultural arts performances. Whether you think you like reading or not, The Big Read is a great excuse to pick up a book and remember what it is like to get lost in a good story. The Big Read’s kick off event will be held September 19 at 6:30pm at the URI Multicultural Center, Room 101. 74 Lower College Road, Kingston.