FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2007

Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Jeannine Mjoseth, [log in to unmask]
Mamie Bittner, [log in to unmask] 

IMLS and NEA Announce Third Deadline for the Big Read

Deadline: July 31, 2007

Washington, DC--The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in
partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), announces
the third deadline for the Big Read program. The purpose of the Big Read
is to revitalize the role of literature in American popular culture.
Grants ranging from $5,000 - $20,000 are available to encourage local
communities to inspire literary reading through the Big Read program. 

Organizations selected to participate in the Big Read will receive a
grant, financial support to attend a national orientation meeting,
educational and promotional materials for broad distribution, an
organizer's guide for developing and managing Big Read activities,
inclusion of the organization and its activities on the Big Read Web
site, and the prestige of participating in a highly visible national
initiative. Approximately 120 organizations of varying sizes across the
country will be selected in this cycle.

In addition to the grant, selected organizations will receive a library
of related materials for each community's use to entice readers to join
the Big Read. These materials include:

* Reader's guides for each book, providing historical context, author
biographies, discussion questions, and more. 
* Teachers' guides for each novel, with ten days of lesson plans,
including writing assignments, discussion questions, and handouts. 
* CDs for each book, with commentary from renowned artists, educators,
and public figures. 
* TV spots and radio programming, as part of a comprehensive media plan.
* Publicity materials, including posters, banners, and bookmarks.
* An online organizer's guide for executing a successful Big Read
program. 
* A comprehensive Web site, bringing the program, the books, and the
materials to a wider audience and serving as a gateway for participating
cities to share ideas.

The Request for Proposals can be downloaded at www.NEABigRead.org. The
proposal deadline is July 31, 2007, and funded activities should be
scheduled to take place between January and June 2008. Questions should
be directed to Arts Midwest at 612-341-0755 or
[log in to unmask]

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

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services The Institute of
Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for
the nation's 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums.
The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that
connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the
national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to
sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and
innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about
the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.

About the National Endowment for the Arts The National Endowment for the
Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the
arts-both new and established-bringing the arts to all Americans, and
providing leadership in arts education.
Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal
government, the Endowment is the nation's largest annual funder of the
arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner
cities, and military bases. For more information, please visit
www.arts.gov.

About Arts Midwest
Arts Midwest connects people throughout the Midwest and the world to
meaningful arts opportunities, sharing creativity, knowledge, and
understanding across boundaries. Arts Midwest connects the arts to
audiences throughout the nine-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. One
of six non-profit regional arts organizations in the United States, Arts
Midwest's history spans more than 25 years. For more information, please
visit www.artsmidwest.org.