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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.

Orange Reads and this Web site are presented by OLA, the Orange Library Association, serving the seventeen member libraries of Orange County, New York.

Ask Us


Contact us by email:
Art Submissions: Debbie Hurd, Newburgh Free Library
Chair Person: Laurie Angle, Albert Wisner Public Library
Program information: Annmarie Paoli, Florida Public Library
Media: Lisa Hewel, Moffat Library
Web site: Katie Ahearn, Josephine-Louise Public Library
Sponsorship: Ginny Neidermier, Josephine-Louise Public Library
Colleges: Barbara Petruzzelli, Mount St. Mary College, Susan Parry, Orange County Community College

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is The Big Read?
    The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The program provides citizens with the opportunity to read and discuss a single book within their communities. The Big Read brings together partners across the country to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment. Big Read grantees comprise a variety or organizations, including libraries, municipalities, colleges, and arts, culture, and science organizations. To date, the NEA has funded more than 500 The Big Read programs in the nation?s towns and cities.

  2. Why has this program been organized?
    The program was created in response to the National Endowment for the Arts report Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America, which identified a critical decline in literary reading among American adults. With communities across the country as partners and by awarding grants and by improving access to the art of literature, the Arts Endowment is working toward reversing the decline in reading. To Read or Not To Read: A Question of National Consequence, the NEA?s 2007 follow-up report to Reading at Risk, reported that not only are Americans reading less, they are also reading less well, and these declines in reading have civic, social, and economic implications. To Read or Not to Read assembled data on reading trends from more than 40 sources, including federal agencies, universities, foundations and associations.

  3. What is the Orange Library Association?
    OLA is an organization of library staff, trustees and friends of the library from the 17 public libraries in Orange County. These libraries serve a population of 376,000 in a county bounded by the Hudson and Delaware rivers and the New Jersey border. OLA?s mission is to promote library service, to encourage access to materials among all county libraries through cooperation and exchange of information, to promote state and national guidelines for library service, to educate the public about library services and funding issues, to provide regular programs, meetings and publications to educate members, and to oppose censorship and pledge active support in local areas where freedoms are attacked. OLA is interested in promoting programs and projects in which all 17 libraries can participate, which utilize our county funding and which will promote literacy and reading. Our principal activities are meetings, training for members, and the Books for Babies program.

  4. When will Orange Library Association's countywide read take place?
    Activities are scheduled to run from late October 1 to 31, with a kickoff planned for October 1 at the Lycian Center in Sugar Loaf.

  5. What types of events will take place during the countywide read in Orange County?
    The countywide read in Orange County will include a variety of free activities, including book discussions, a play, radio programs, art presentations, lectures from literary scholars, outreach to schools, a Black Dirt Storytelling Guild program, and musical presentations.

  6. Where can I find more information about OLA's countywide read?
    For information on Orange Reads 2010, contact Chairperson Laurie Angle at 986-1047, program chairperson, Annmarie Paoli at 651-7654, or Lisa Hewel, publicity chairperson, at 496-5483.

Visit www.neabigread.org for more information about the national Big Read program, including guidelines and application deadlines. The Web site also features information about The Big Read novels, including author biographies, discussion questions, and suggestions for further reading.