Big Read Kickoff Location: The First Church, Meeting House

When: THIS SATURDAY - Oct 2, 4:00pm
Where: Meeting House, The First Church (corner of Main and Lorain Streets)

No, we won't be burning actual books.

But participants will be invited to create a facsimile of a favorite book to burn in the fire, to dramatize the effects of book burning, suppression of information and the silencing of intellectual discourse in any society.  The burning may take place off-site, given that we have moved the even to our rain location in light of the rain and wind forecast for Saturday.

Free books to the first 125 participants.

Speakers: Readings from Fahrenheit 451 by President Krislov, Oberlin City Manager Eric Norenberg, and Oberlin City Schools Superintendent Geoffrey Andrews; Remarks from Molly Raphael, '67, ALA President-Elect.

Rain location:  Meeting House, The First Church, corner of Main and Lorain Streets.

Stop by our table at Oberlin Goes Back to School

We will be promoting the Big Read at the Oberlin High School today, during the Back to School activities, from 4:30-6:30.  Stop by and SIGN UP to be part of a discussion group!  Free books to discussion group facilitators, plus handy reader guides and other helpful material.

Promoting the Big Read at Family Fun Fair

Many people learned about the NEA Big Read and our choice of Fahrenheit 451 during Oberlin's Family Fun Fair on August 7.  Jaqui Willis and Alison Ricker (left and right, respectively, in photo below) chatted with passersby and helped children and adults alike play our "match the quote to the book" game, as a way to promote reading in general.

Thanks to the Oberlin Public Library Friends of the Library for providing the prizes for our game!  Thanks also to the Oberlin Bookstore for allowing us a spot in front of the store - a great corner in the shade, with a lot of foot traffic.

The hats, colorful cups, and water bottles were favored by prize winners.  Thanks, Friends of the OPL!

Jaqui checks the source of a quotation for a visitor.

Seeking hosts / leaders for book discussion groups

Would you, or an organization you belong to, be interested in hosting a book group?  The Big Read planning team is seeking individuals or organizations to host private or public book discussion groups of Fahrenheit 451.  Your group can check out a circulating "Book Group Kit" from Oberlin Public Library with copies of the book, an audio CD from the Big Read and Readers Guides for your whole group.

Please contact Librarian Marleen Watling, of Oberlin Public Library (watlinma@oplin.org) for further information. 

NEA Grant for Oberlin Community

Oberlin College has gratefully accepted a grant of $6,800 on behalf of the Oberlin Community NEA Big Read of Fahrenheit 451.  Cindy Nickoloff, staff writer, announced the community Big Read in the July 15 edition of The Source, Oberlin's campus digital newsletter, with this introduction:  The importance of literacy in a democratic society, the dangers of totalitarian thinking, the misuse of mass media, and the preciousness of free expression will be the talk of the town for the next year, during Oberlin’s Big Read.

We hope the entire community will join us! Pick up a copy at the Oberlin Public Library, or buy your own from one of the local bookstores and pass it along to a friend when finished.  OhioLINK loan is another good option!  It is a quick read.  Would you like to organize a book discussion or other event related to the book or its themes?  Volunteers are very welcome!  Contact a member of the Big Read planning team.