FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2007

Press Contacts
202-653-4628
Kevin O'Connell, koconnell@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov

IMLS and NEA Announce Second Deadline for The Big Read

Deadline: April 12, 2007

Washington, DC--The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), announces the second deadline for The Big Read program. The purpose of The Big Read is to revitalize the role of literature in American popular culture. Grants ranging from $5,000 - $20,000 are available to encourage local communities to inspire literary reading through the Big Read program.

Organizations selected to participate in The Big Read will receive a grant, financial support to attend a national orientation meeting, educational and promotional materials for broad distribution, an organizer’s guide for developing and managing Big Read activities, inclusion of the organization and its activities on The Big Read Web site, and the prestige of participating in a highly visible national initiative. Approximately 120 organizations of varying sizes across the country will be selected in this cycle.

In addition to the grant, selected organizations will receive a library of related materials for each community’s use to entice readers to join The Big Read. These materials include:

• Reader’s guides for each book, providing historical context, author biographies, discussion questions, and more.
• Teacher’s guides for each novel, with ten days of lesson plans, including writing assignments, discussion questions, and handouts.
• CDs for each book, with commentary from renowned artists, educators, and public figures.
• TV spots and radio programming, as part of a comprehensive media plan.
• Publicity materials, including posters, banners, and bookmarks.
• An online organizer’s guide for executing a successful Big Read program.
• A comprehensive Web site, bringing the program, the books, and the materials to a wider audience and serving as a gateway for participating cities to share ideas.

The Request for Proposals can be downloaded at www.NEABigRead.org. The proposal deadline is April 12, 2007, and funded activities should be scheduled to take place between September and December, 2007. Questions should be directed to Arts Midwest at 612-341-0755 or TheBigRead@artsmidwest.org.

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit: www.imls.gov.

About the National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts—both new and established—bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Endowment is the nation's largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases. For more information, please visit: www.arts.gov.

About Arts Midwest
Arts Midwest connects people throughout the Midwest and the world to meaningful arts opportunities, sharing creativity, knowledge, and understanding across boundaries. Arts Midwest connects the arts to audiences throughout the nine-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. One of six non-profit regional arts organizations in the United States, Arts Midwest's history spans more than 25 years. For more information, please visit: www.artsmidwest.org.