As the honorary chair of the Big Read, First Lady Laura Bush made a visit to Bridgeport in support of the Southwestern CT Collaborative. On April 16, at the Barnum Museum, she joined NEA Chairman Dana Gioia, Dr. Anne Radice, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, author Charles Shields, and Bridgeport High School English teacher, Carolyn Axt in a panel discussion about To Kill a Mockingbird. Other highlights of the day included a performance by blues guitarist Dan Stevens; a 3 minute documentary, spotlighting the programs of the Southwestern Regional Collaborative, produced by Bridgeport Librarian, Nancy Sweeney; and a scene from the play adaptation performed by members of Center Stage in Shelton. Those in attendance included area dignitaries, as well as members of the Big Read Collaborative Committee and people who have been a part of the many programs centered around the Harper Lee novel.
Fairfield County Community Foundation
Kellogg Foundation
The Kellogg Foundation is also supporting the Southwestern Collaborative Big Read Program.
Big Read Press Conference
- Photos from Congressman Shays November Press Conference.
Distribution Day
- On February 6, 2007 members of the Regional Big Read Committee met to update and finalize plans for their city's events. Also at this time members were given their copies of the book, Big Read teacher and reading guides, posters, and bookmarks.
Stuffing 1000 Bags
- A 1,000 bags were stuffed over a period of two days in anticipation of the Big Read program. Each bag contained a copy of the book, a calendar of events and other promotional items.
Memoir Writing
- The Bridgeport Public Library memoir writing group will be using To Kill a Mockingbird as their theme for next month's meeting and writing session.
Bridgeport Day
- The Bridgeport Public Library promoted the Big Read at the annual Bridgeport Day in Hartford on March 21, 2007
STAR 99.9
- Talking up the Big Read on the radio are representatives from Bridgeport, Shelton and New Haven.
WICC 600
- The Big Read is the focus of Jim Buchanan's WICC morning show
Mockingbird Poetry
- Women at Mercy Learning Center participate in a poetry workshop led by Dianna Miller. Using a passage from To Kill a Mockingbird students comprised a collaborative poem. Others wrote individual poems as well.
Noteworthy Books for the Big Read
Charles J. Shields: Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee
Author Charles Shields will be visiting the Southwestern Collaborative on March 31, 2007 to discuss his biography. Check the Calendar of Events for times and locations.Harold Bloom: Harper Lee's to Kill a Mockingbird (Blooms Notes)
If you are looking for a study guide, this is it.Harper Lee: To Kill a Mockingbird Activity Pack
A great guide for teachers.Johnson: Masterwork Studies Series - To Kill a Mockingbird (cloth) (Masterwork Studies Series)
Another great study guide.Loretta Ellsworth: In Search of Mockingbird
A young adult novel where the main character after finding her dead mother's copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, goes in search of Harper Lee.
Current Affairs
May 11, 2007
April 05, 2007
The Big Read Bridgeport Hits the Papers!
Publicity for The Big Read Initiative here in the City of Bridgeport has been fast and furious! Along with Bridgeport Public Library Community Relations Librarian, Michael Bielawa’s Connecticut Post 10 question interview, many other wonderful articles have appeared in the local papers.
March 23, 2007
The Big Read Goes to Bridgeport Day
Michael Bielawa and Nancy Sweeney, librarians from the Bridgeport Public Library were on hand to promote the Big Read at the annual Bridgeport Day held every year at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. Michael is also the co-chair of programming for the Bridgeport Big Read Events. During the course of the day they handed out Big Read packets to interested Bridgeport residents, spoke with Bridgeport City Council members about the exciting events and gave Senator Bill Finch, 
who originated Bridgeport Day his own copy of To Kill a Mockingbird. Senator Finch’s son Atticus is named after one of the characters in Harper Lee’s award winning novel!
February 16, 2007
Big Read-National Website
This event is part of The Big Read,an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest.
To Kill A Mockingbird
Harper Lee: To Kill a Mockingbird
This is the copy we will be using during the Big Read.
Regional Big Read Calendar of Events
May 2007
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
Recent Comments