NEA Big Read Applications Open

And now a word from DPI's Ben Miller posted before the holidays:

"Sharing a library related news release from DPI ConnectEd. This is a fantastic opportunity for public and school library collaborations in communities throughout Wisconsin.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2022-23 National Endowment for the Arts Big Read Program.

The NEA Big Read is a community engagement opportunity with grants of up to $20,000 for community-wide reading programs (in-person and/or virtual). Organizations can select one of 15 available books. Visit https://www.artsmidwest.org/programs/neabigread/books for more information and descriptions of the books.

Eligible organizations include school districts, libraries, art organizations, humanities councils, community service organizations, institutions of higher education, literary centers, theater companies, museums, tribal governments, and more.

The deadline to apply is Jan. 26, 2022. For more information on the program and the application process, visit https://www.artsmidwest.org/programs/neabigread/application-process.

The Library Services Team maintains a list of current grant opportunities and sources to check for possible grant funding."

Ben Miller

Wisconsin Reads the Round House

Guest Author: Claire Parrish, Public Services Director, Rice Lake Public Library

Rice Lake Public Library is working on a Big Read grant with several community and regional partners. We have lots of exciting events coming up that I wanted to share with you!  To find out all the details about the project, check out the website: http://wisconsinreads.org/  

Birchbark House Kits

Along with the many activities that will accompany Big Read book discussions for Louise Erdrich’s novel The Round House, Wisconsin Reads has developed a kit that librarians and patrons can use to carry out youth programming for Erdrich’s novel The Birchbark House.

Each kit will include 6 copies of The Birchbark House, craft projects, a map of tribal lands, a card game for learning some Ojibwe language, a foods project, as well as journaling and discussion questions.  A majority of the supplies are provided, but some crafts require extra supplies.  Wisconsin Reads The Round House can also provide a poster to help you advertise your events to the public.

Many of the kit activities are hands-on, helping youth explore characters and themes in The Birchbark House. Set in the 1800’s, the novel describes an Ojibwe family living on the Island of the Golden-Breasted Woodpecker (Madeline Island) in Lake Superior. In addition to seasons, hardship, and family and community bonds, the book traces the childhood of Omakayas, who is destined to follow in the footsteps of her Grandmother Nokomis, a healer.

The kit allows for an exploration of Ojibwe culture, and includes extensive bibliographies for librarians and information about helping to promote more awareness of American Indian resources through Act 31.

 

RLPL is using the kits with our Boys and Girls Club book club students, who are all in 3rd and 4th grade. We’ve made it a few chapters in so far, and they are really enjoying the story and learning more about the Native tribes who live in our area.

Rice Lake, Lac Courte Oreille, Baraboo, and Marshfield each have six kits available for checkout. If you are interested, you can request them through MORE or WISCAT, and we send them through courier.

I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about how we partners with UW Colleges or if you want more detail about the project. 

Claire Parrish 

claireparrish@ricelakegov.org

715-234-4861 ext. 117