Big Read

Spreading the joy of reading and initiating thoughtful dialogues.

College of Southern Maryland brings “A Lesson Before Dying,” an Ernest J. Gaines novel set in Louisiana in the 1940s to Southern Maryland. The Big Read brings together our community simultaneously reading and discussing a single book with the goal of spreading the joy of reading and initiating thoughtful dialogues.

Kick-offs are scheduled in February for Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties followed by a number of book discussions, movie previews, performances and writing and art contests.

Book discussions, classroom assignments, public readings, poetry slam competitions and performances will reach a diverse audience of lapsed and non-readers as community members participate in this dialogue.

The activities are part of The Big Read grant, received by the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) in partnership with the public libraries, the public schools and the literacy councils of Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties, as well as with the Office of Aging in St. Mary’s County, the Charles County Arts Alliance, Naval Surface Warfare Center-Indian Head, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Southern Maryland, Southern Maryland Newspapers and the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland.

 

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest.