Free books available for The Big Read

The Quincy Public Library is proud to join Quincy University and The Friends of the Quincy Public Library in presenting the 2010 BIG READ: QUINCY! The 2010 BIG READ:QUINCY will take place September 9th-October 8th and will feature the book, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The Big Read is a month-long initiative designed to get members of the community to read the same book, at the same time. Thanks to a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and the support of the Quincy community, nine-hundred twenty five free copies of the book will be distributed throughout Quincy.

The Quincy Public Library will Kick-off the BIG READ Gatsby-style at the Women’s City Club, 1550 Maine, Thursday, September 9th from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Participants are invited to pick up their free copy of The Great Gatsby and enjoy a free picnic lunch, 1920s music, and a display of period automobiles. Mayor John Spring will welcome the crowd at 11:30 a.m. and Dr. Deirdre Fagan, Associate Professor of English at Quincy University, will share some insights to the novel in a brief Keynote address. Those who cannot make it to the Kick-off can purchase their own copy of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald at locally-owned bookstore Great Debate Books, 525 Maine St.

The BIG READ:QUINCY will continue throughout the month of September and October with over 20 programs and book discussions. Participants are encouraged to join a library book discussion, attend a Jazz Age lecture, or simply get together with friends, coworkers, neighbors and family members to discuss the book. The sole purpose of the Big Read is to spark discussion as a whole by the community.

For a complete list of BIG READ:QUINCY activities, including a Roaring Twenties Film Series, The Great Gatsby Book Discussions and The Jazz Age Lecture Series, visit www.quincylibrary.org or pick up a Big Read brochure at the Quincy Public Library.

The Quincy Public Library would like to thank presenting sponsors The Friends of the Quincy Public Library and Quincy University for their generous support of the 2010 Big Read. The Big Read would not be possible without the support of the following 2010 Big Read Partners: Great Debate Books, Quincy Service League, Live Local, WGEM, Quincy Herald Whig, WQUB, Quincy Society of Fine Arts, Quincy Public Schools, Quincy Notre Dame, Young Professionals, Walmart, Women’s City Club, Dan’s Auto, and the Antique Auto Museum and Mississippi Valley Historic Auto Club.

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) 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. Support for The Big Read has been provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the Boeing Company, the Poetry Foundation, and the Ford Motor Company.