The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has given Greenwood Library a grant for a community reading program, per Brent Roberts, dean of the Greenwood Library.
“The NEA sponsors (these), what they call Big Read grants and what it does is a community reading event,” said Roberts. “It brings people together to discuss important issues and questions that surround the content of the book and which are relevant to all the people involved.”
Per Roberts, “Burning Bright” by Ron Rash was selected from the NEA list of approved books.
“It is a collection of short stories that explore the history, culture, music, poetry of the Appalachia and we're very excited about a whole series of events that will take place primarily in the month of April,” Roberts said.
The grant will provide 650 copies of the book, according to Jennifer Beach, research and instructional services librarian and head of Longwood’s Big Read committee. To maximize the number of people who can read the book, ten “read and release boxes” are being created as well.
“There will be one on campus, one at Hampden-Sydney, one at the public libraries and at different businesses around the community. People can take a book and if they don't want to keep it, which they can, they can return it and someone else can pick it up and read it,” said Beach.
The events will be thematically related to the book and in partnership with other community organizations. Longwood is partnering with the Central Virginia Regional Public Library, Hampden-Sydney College, Prince Edward County Public Schools and other local schools, according to Beach.
“The goal for this type of programming or this type of grant is to actually have programming throughout the community,” said Beach.
Per Beach, programming will include book discussions, an author visit, movie screenings, a play and a writing event. The first event will be on April 6 at the Farmville Community Marketplace and will have book giveaways, crafts and food trucks. Students can contact the library if they are interested in volunteering with the Big Read.
The library has additional programming planned for the semester outside the Big Read, per Roberts.
Hamiltunes and the Long Night Against Procrastination are both returning events from last semester as well as game nights and Valentine’s Day “Love your library” programming.
Per Roberts, the library is also getting a DVD dispenser for students to use when the library is closed.
“Our DVD collection is one of the most popular things in all of Greenwood Library and people are always coming through and checking out DVDs,” Roberts said. “We are purchasing a Redbox-style dispenser to go into the space between the library and the Comma convenience store so that students can come in there any time of the day or night whenever they want.”
According to Roberts, the library has also gained access to Flipster, an app that students can use through the library to check out popular magazines with their Longwood credentials.
The library has also had some minor physical changes, per Roberts. Rooms 147A, 147B, and 148 are being combined into one large meeting space with dividers. Included in the room will be larger screens and controls allowing for broadcasting.
Per Roberts, the library is also updating the furniture in those rooms and installing collaborative learning technologies.
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The NEA grant will provide 650 copies of Ron Rash's "Burning Bright".
