UVa-Wise freshmen to experience the mystery of ‘The Maltese Falcon’ with the Big Read

The University of Virginia’s College at Wise will join the Lonesome Pine Regional Library and other community organizations in reading the novel “The Maltese Falcon” as part of the Big Read.

UVa-Wise students enrolled in the spring 2008 freshman orientation course will read the Dashiell Hammett classic about detective Sam Spade and his quest to find the Maltese falcon. Other campus events will include a discussion of the women of Hammett’s works and a film noir series.

The Lonesome Pine Library is one of 127 organizations throughout the nation to receive the National Endowment for the Arts grant.  Grantees represent 38 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The NEA launched the Big Read nationally in 2007 in partnership with the institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest.

“We have partnered with the most exceptional organizations in our area to present fun, quality programming and, most importantly, to promote the joy of reading throughout the region,” said Julie Short, library coordinator at the Lonesome Pine Regional Library.

Other area organizations in partnership with the library include Mountain Empire Community College, the regional adult education programs of the City of Norton and Lee, Scott and Wise counties, Appalachian Children’s Theatre, Norton City Schools, and the public schools of Wise, Dickenson, Lee and Scott counties.

The Big Read will begin in late March 2008 with readings on the steps of the Wise County courthouse. Other activities will include a mystery dinner theatre production by Appalachian Children’s Theatre, art shows, scavenger hunts and detective/forensic science programs. The event will culminate in April with a 1920s-themed gala for all ages at the library.

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 Arts 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.

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. For more information, please visit www.imls.gov.

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 nonprofit regional arts organizations in the United States, Arts Midwest’s history spans more than 25 years. For more information, please visit www.artsmidwest.org.

Posted November 16, 2007