March 15, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE FOUNDATION AT MCCC TO HOST A MONTH OF EVENTS IN
CELEBRATION OF ‘THE BIG READ’ MONROE

MONROE, Mich. –– The Foundation at Monroe County Community College’s Big Read Monroe program celebrating Fahrenheit 451, a novel by Ray Bradbury, will include a full slate of events beginning with The Big Read Monroe Kick-Off – which will take place on Sunday, March 18 at 2 p.m. in Loranger Square in Downtown Monroe – and running through April 21.

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture.  The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest.  The Big Read brings together partners across the county to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment. 

The following is a list of upcoming Big Read Monroe events.  Each event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited; therefore, attendees are encouraged to arrive early.  All book clubs will be discussing Fahrenheit 451.

March 20

• Luna Pier Book Club Discussion; Luna Pier Library Branch, Luna Pier, 7 p.m.
• Meadow Montessori Adult/Parent Book Discussion; Monroe, 7 p.m.

March 21

• Anime Drawing Demonstration; Bedford Branch Library, Temperance, 3-6 p.m.

March 22

• Lecture on Ray Bradbury by Guest Speaker Garyn Roberts; Ellis Library Branch, Monroe, 7 p.m.

March 26

• North County Book Club Discussion; Carleton Library Branch, Carleton, 7 p.m.
• Vivian Library Book Discussion; Vivian Library Branch, Monroe, 7 p.m.

March 27

• Freedom Sings; Monroe County Community College, La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater, 7 p.m.  A musical and multimedia celebration of the First Amendment presented by the First Amendment Center and the Freedom Forum featuring a cast of hit songwriters and Grammy Award winners.

March 28

• Film Festival – Fahrenheit 451; Monroe County Community College, La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater, 7 p.m.  Guest speaker:  Movie Critic David Walsh.
• Dorsch Memorial Book Club Discussion; Dorsch Memorial Library, Monroe, 7 p.m.

March 29

• Newport Library Book Discussion; Newport Library Branch, Newport, 6:30 p.m.

April 3

• Ida Branch Library Book Club; Ida Library Branch, Ida, 4:30 p.m.
• Dundee Book Discussion Group; Dundee Library Branch, Dundee, 6:30 p.m.

April 4

• Film Festival – Syriana; River Raisin Centre for the Arts, 7 p.m.
• Bluebush Library Book Discussion; Bluebush Library Branch, Monroe, 7 p.m.

April 6

• Women’s Fiction Book Club; Ellis Library Branch, Monroe, 10 a.m.

April 9

• The Big Read-A-Thon; Arthur Lesow Community Center, Monroe.  Students will attempt to break the Guinness record for continuous reading from April 9-20.
• Erie Branch Book Club; Erie Library Branch, Erie, 7 p.m.

April 10

• Frenchtown Dixie Book Discussion, Frenchtown Dixie Library Branch, Monroe, 7 p.m.

April 11

• Film Festival, The Manchurian Candidate; Ellis Library Branch, Monroe, 7 p.m.

April 12

• Brown Bag Book Discussion; Monroe County Community College, La-Z-Boy Center Atrium, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

April 15

• Film Book Club, Bedford Library Branch, Temperance, 1 p.m.

April 18

• Film Festival – Jean Renoir’s This Land is Mine; Monroe County Community College, La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater, 7 p.m.

April 19

• Censorship in Today’s Society - A Panel Discussion; La-Z-Boy Center Atrium, 7 p.m.

April 21

• Closing Ceremony, Ellis Library Branch, Monroe, 2.p.m.  Art and Writing Contest Awards Presentation.

The Foundation at Monroe County Community College is one of 72 organizations nationwide selected to receive an NEA Big Read Grant.  The Big Read is presented in conjunction with the DTE Energy Foundation, Holcim, Monroe Bank & Trust and Monroe Publishing Company.

For more information on The Big Read Monroe, go to www.monroeccc.edu/bigread.