Programs & Education

The National Endowment for the Arts - The Big Read Hawai’i, 2007

2007 Big Read Team

Research shows active readers are more engaged in their schools, communities, and families. They are more likely to be involved in cultural, volunteer, and other civic activities than nonreaders and are more willing to participate in a vibrant democracy. This is why the Hawai’i Capital Cultural Coalition partnered with the Governor's Office, Hawai’i Council for the Humanities, Mānoa Foundation, Hawai’i State Library System, Department of Education, and Smythe and Associates to plan and conduct The Big Read Hawai’i (TBR) in the fall of 2007. 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, is an exciting program designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The goal of the program is to engage all sectors of our community through a variety of activities that promote reading, encourage communitywide discussion of universal themes, and inspire a lifelong love of literature. The Big Read especially targets reluctant or lapsed readers and youth. The Big Read Hawai’i inspired thousands of people across the state from different cultural, geographic and socio-economic groups to read The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, and participate in a variety of activities to promote reading and discussion of the book and its themes. The Big Read Hawai’i also highlighted the positive impact of reading great American literature through the TBR website; news releases, press-kits and campaign activities.

Research

The Hawai’i Capital Cultural Coalition’s involvement was triggered by a landmark survey conducted by the National Endowment for the Arts, Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America, which found that literary reading strongly correlates to other forms of active civic participation, and yet less than half of the adult American population reads fine literature.

In addition, the Census Bureau conducted a survey titled ‘Public Participation in the Arts’ (with some data extrapolated from the Reading at Risk survey). The Census Bureau survey sampled 17,000 individuals age 18 and above. The data clearly showed that the importance of literature is declining across American populations. Active, engaged readers were shown as leading richer, more intellectual lives over non-readers, and that well-read citizens are essential to a vibrant democracy.

Budget

A budget of $90,000 was established to develop and implement the statewide campaign, including travel between six islands. The money was raised through grants, in-kind and private donations. Funding was generously provided by National Endowment for the Arts, Kellogg Foundation, Hawai’i State Department of Human Services, Hawai’i Council for the Humanities, Friends of the Hawai’i State Public Library, Princeville Center, and Smythe and Associates. In-kind support was contributed by Honolulu Advertiser, BORDERS Books, Honu Group Inc., and Electric Pencil, and by the planning partners: Hawai’i Council for the Humanities, Mānoa Foundation, Hawai’i State Public Library, and Hawai’i Capital Cultural Coalition. The entire project was completed within the established budget.

Execution

The Big Read Hawai’i extended to six islands: O‘ahu, Hawai’i, Kaua‘i, Maui, Moloka‘i and Lana‘i. The initiative targeted venues where lapsed readers could be encouraged to begin reading again, including public schools and public library programs, military bases and community centers in addition to outreach through the Motheread/Fatheread, a literacy program for prisoners and their families. The following activities and events were conducted.

  • Partnered with Governor Linda Lingle to host a news conference kicking off a month-long calendar of activities surrounding The Big Read Hawai’i.

  • Conducted 21 facilitated book discussions, with special attention to underserved communities such as the islands of Moloka‘i and Lana‘i.

  • Distributed nearly 11,000 reader’s guides and 480 audio guides of The Joy Luck Club.

  • Community service reading projects with Youth Service Hawai’i.

  • Motheread/Fatheread prison programs, designed to encourage family empowerment through reading.

  • Conducted a Department of Education teacher training workshop for more that 50 teachers entitled Using Literature and Biography to Teach History & Reading.

  • Participation in the annual Children & Youth Day Festival, sponsoring a booth with activities supporting the importance of reading for parents and children.

  • Reading discussion programs at 3 military bases.

  • Designed and launched The Big Read Hawai’i web-site which generated more than 5,000 unique visitors during the campaign.

  • Performed 8 abbreviated readers-theatre style performances of The Joy Luck Club.

  • Conducted classroom readings and class projects with more than 300 students within the Hawai’i State Department of Education.

  • A series of highly visible activities in 8 welltrafficked BORDERS Books stores throughout the month of October, including celebrity readings of The Joy Luck Club, TBR banners, posters and window displays.

  • A screening of The Joy Luck Club movie at the Hawai’i International Film Festival coupled with a panel discussion, Books to Film: Crossing Boundaries, Creating Worlds, featuring the film’s executive producer, Janet Yang, and other local luminaries.

  • A PBS Panel Discussion and 30 minute television segment entitled Reading at Risk discussing the effects on communities that fail to encourage and support reading.

  • 27 cultural events at libraries throughout the state.