Dearborn Public Library Seeks Partners to Join Community's 'Big Read' Event

Dearborn Public Library launched its 'Big Read' event, set for March 2014, on Monday with a gathering of community and institutional partners promoting activities surrounding Jack London’s The Call of the Wild.

The Big Read is funded with a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Dearborn Public Library was one of only two libraries in Michigan to be awarded the grant for 2014.

The Big Read is designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and to encourage residents to read for pleasure and enlightenment.  

To help bring this special program to life, Dearborn Public Library is partnering with many institutions and organizations, including The Henry Ford, the Dearborn Community Fund, the Dearborn Education Foundation, Dearborn Public Schools, the Dearborn Library Foundation, and the Friends of the Dearborn Library.

The University of Michigan-Dearborn Mardigian Library, the UM-D Environmental Interpretative Center, Oakwood Healthcare Foundation, the AAUW Dearborn, the Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter, the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra, and the Dearborn Heights Libraries are also partners in "The Big Read."

Many of the community partners were represented at Monday’s launch event, which featured Library Director Maryanne Bartles and Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr.

The library welcomes additional partners, whose commitment can be monetary, or to help publicize the events, or to plan their own activities related to the book.

The idea is to get as many different aspects of the community involved, so that as many residents as possible can experience the book or take part in a related activity.

The adventure begins with a kickoff at The Henry Ford on March 8, 2014.

The event will be in the Anderson Theater and the Prechter Promenade, featuring a dramatic reading from The Call of the Wild by literary celebrity George Guidall, free copies of the book, live music, family-friendly activities, and more.

Throughout March, April, and May, there will be a series of events for children, teens and adults, including movies, book discussions, lectures, a sled dog demonstration, photo contest, and more.

Plans are to purchase 400 copies of the book in paperback for the kickoff and 10,000 copies in tabloid format for the entire program.

In addition, dual language Arabic/English books for The Call of the Wild have been found so that The Big Read Dearborn can include Dearborn residents who speak Arabic as their first language.

Also, the Dearborn Public Schools, the Henry Ford Academy, the Muslim American Youth Academy (MAYA) and Advanced Technology Academy (ATA) will incorporate the book into their curriculum during the 2013-2014 school year.

The program will wrap up in May 2014 with a special celebration at the Henry Ford Centennial Library featuring fun activities for the entire community.

For more information, visit http://bigreaddearborn.org for updates.

Businesses, service clubs, schools or individuals can call 313-943-2330 to learn how to become a partner in Dearborn's The Big Read event.