Communities join together for All Hamptons Read initiativeDate: 4/20/2021 WESTERN MASS. – Five communities have come together in a partnership called All Hamptons Read, an initiative led by public libraries in Northampton, Florence, Easthampton, Westhampton, Southampton and Williamsburg.
Director of Emily Williston Memorial Library and Museum in Easthampton, Nora Blake said, “All Hamptons Read began in 2013 when we got a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read grant to read the book, Outcasts United.”
The Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association (PVMA) launched the NEA Big Read grant, allowing for libraries to provide this programming and additional events.
Blake said the Emily Williston Memorial Library became involved with this initiative through Forbes Library in Northampton. Forbes contacted its neighboring libraries to be a part of a community read.
Barbara Goldin, director of Edwards Public Library in Southampton said they became involved through a similar manner.
She said, “We were invited by the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association in Deerfield to join with their Big Reads grant so we’re part of an even wider group of libraries and institutions than we have been in the past which brings greater resources and programming for all of us.”
Bev Bullock, director of Meekins Library in Williamsburg, said this is the first year that Meekins Library has been a part of the initiative.
The inspiration for this year’s initiative derives from the book “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel. St. John Mandel is an ALA Notable Book and Arthur C. Clarke Award winner.
According to Forbes’ website, “All Hamptons Read is partnering with the Big Read Pocumtuck Valley, the Libraries in the Woods, New England Public Media (NEPM), and other local organizations to give readers throughout our region the opportunity to come together for discussion and exploration of the themes from ‘Station Eleven.’
“Much of the story revolves around a nomadic group of actors and musicians called the Travelling Symphony who tour the Great Lakes region in search of the Museum of Civilization 20 years after a pandemic has killed 99 percent of the world’s population. The themes raised include death and survival, the exploration of memory, what civilization is, and the endurance of art.”
Although the book was chosen pre-pandemic, it’s an even more relevant and important topic to discuss now, Blake said.
Bullock claimed, “This is a well-written, awesome book.”
On April 27, NEPM and the NEA Big Read are hosting a virtual Zoom event with St. John Mandel, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
The conversation will be hosted by NEPM’s Jill Kauffman and will conclude with a live Q&A.
“Please submit questions for the author to Marie_Waechter@nepm.org. This event will be live captioned,” said Forbes. There are only 500 spots for this event – first come, first served.
In addition, each participating library is hosting their own discussion, allowing for participants to share their thoughts and reactions on the book.
Edwards Public Library will host their discussion on April 27, from 1 to 2 p.m, in the Conant Park Pavilion behind the library. Forbes Library’s discussion is May 3, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Zoom, and Emily Williston Memorial Library’s will take place May 6, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m, also on Zoom.
Registration is required for all discussions.
Blake stated they are happy to be a part of this and are fortunate enough, as a private organization, to be able to distribute money to related programs.
Bullock said, “This book brings up a lot of emotions and good conversation. It’s important to talk about these things- it’s building community.”
“These community wide reads are a way to explore new books and new themes together and share ideas. These experiences can sometimes have effects that last past the community wide reads,” claimed Goldin.
PVMA has planning programming through the summer and fall. However, Blake explained, the libraries’ discussions are the main event for this initiative.
Additional information on the All Hamptons Read can be found on various social media channels, through newsletters sent to community subscribers, and the Forbes Library website.
If you wish to register for a virtual discussion, or are looking for additional information in regards to All Hamptons Read events, visit https://forbeslibrary.org/community/all-hamptons-read/ and https://deerfield-ma.org/nea-big-read-pocumtuck-valley/.
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