Vermont Reads 2019 March: Book One by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell A Statewide One-Book Community Reading Program March: Book One is the first of a trilogy by civil rights icon John Lewis, in collaboration with co-writer Andrew Aydin and award-winning graphic artist Nate Powell. The book’s graphic novel format combines prose with narrative drawing. Lewis is considered one of the “Big Six” leaders of the civil rights movement. Book One tells of Lewis’s childhood in rural Alabama, his desire as a young man to be a preacher, his life-changing interactions with Martin Luther King, Jr., and the nonviolent sit-ins he joined at lunch counters in Nashville as a means of undermining segregation. All three volumes of March illustrate Lewis’s commitment to nonviolence in the pursuit of social justice. Readers will be inspired to keep exploring, reading about, and discussing this seminal time in our country’s history. Any community organization may apply to host Vermont Reads. We strongly encourage collaborations with other organizations and businesses. VHC invites all Vermonters—students and adults alike — to read the same book and participate in a wide variety of community activities related to its themes. A brief application from a community-based organization is all it takes to get started. • RECEIVE FREE BOOKS and programming support for your community. • HOST readings, discussions, and community events in your schools, libraries, and local businesses. • LISTEN to Vermont Public Radio’s Vermont Reads feature. Apply Applications due June 1, 2019. Visit vermontreads.org or contact us at 802.262.1355 or community@ vermonthumanities.org. Vermont Humanities Council Underwriter: Jan Blomstrann With support 11 Loomis Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05602 from the Jack & 802.262.2626 • [email protected] Dorothy Byrne vermonthumanities.org Media Partner: Foundation Vermont Reads March: Book One Information and Application Vermont Reads Supporters social service organization are all possibilities. The primary sponsor will collaborate with other community The Vermont Humanities Council is grateful to the partners to plan creative and diverse humanities-based supporters of Vermont Reads 2019: Jan Blomstrann and the activities that support community-wide reading and Jack & Dorothy Byrne Foundation. Vermont Public Radio discussion of the book and the themes it contains, and is VHC’s media partner; each year VPR presents several days undertake vigorous publicity in the months leading up of Vermont Reads programming. to the activities. Application Deadline • 1-2 representatives of that organization willing to act as project director(s). June 1, 2019 for priority consideration. Applications will be • At least two other organizations to join the project team accepted after the deadline if books are available. We will and help develop and carry out the activities. In addition respond to your application within two weeks of the to groups mentioned above, potential local partners deadline. Award notifications will contain an estimated might include bookstores, museums, church groups, ship date for your books based upon your event schedule. local businesses, service organizations, afterschool and Apply online. summer programs, teen centers, senior centers/assisted living facilities, and adult education and literacy services Program Implementation Dates centers. Events may be scheduled anytime in 2019. We suggest planning • For priority consideration, apply online before activities over a concentrated period of weeks or months. June 1, 2019. Applications will be accepted beyond the deadlines if books are available. Participating Communities Receive A Note on Dispensing Books: • Up to 75 copies of the Vermont Reads books with a Vermont Reads 2019 seal on the cover. (The number of It is our intention that Vermont Reads books be shared far books awarded depends on the project’s size, scope, and and wide! The strongest Vermont Reads applications will creativity.) To purchase additional books at a discount, include a thoughtful plan to distribute and encourage contact VHC (subject to availability). reuse of books. • Program ideas, discussion guides, recommended related books for all ages, and links to web resources (all found Alternate Versions of the Book: on our website) An e-book version of March: Book One is available in the • Vermont Reads stickers and bookmarks ListenUp! Vermont catalog, the digital lending library used • Poster templates for promoting events by over 170 public and school libraries statewide. Patrons of any of these libraries may check out this book (in addition to • Publicity assistance through the VHC media calendar, thousands of other titles!) through your library’s website or at press releases, and website https://gmlc.overdrive.com. • Contact names upon request of prior Vermont Reads The Vermont Department of Libraries operates a Library project directors who would be happy to share tips for for the Blind and Physically Handicapped for the visually how to make your project successful. impaired and print disabled. Patrons of this library service may access a wide variety of library materials. March: Book How do we get involved? One is available within the complete March Trilogy in To participate, a community should have: digital talking books format (the number is DB087098). http:// • An organization willing to be the primary sponsor/ Visit their website to learn more about this service: libraries.vermont.gov/library_for_the_blind coordinator—a library, school, historical society, or Vermont Reads INFORMATION AND APPLICATION – Vermont Humanities Council – Page 2 Vermont Reads March: Book One Frequently Asked Questions How can I participate in Vermont Reads? local library to see if they have copies to loan, and see our If you represent a community organization — like a library, calendar for Vermont Reads events that your entire book school, historical society, or social service organization — group may be able to participate in. you are eligible to apply to host a Vermont Reads project. VHC also retains a limited number of lending sets for First, find at least two collaborating organizations to help book clubs and other non-eligible groups. Contact distribute books and develop a series of programs and [email protected] to check on activities. Then fill out a Vermont Reads Application. If availability. Shipping charges may apply. your application is approved, we’ll mail you the books and help publicize your events and activities. My organization is applying to host a If you are an individual, see our Calendar of Events for project. Who should participate in our upcoming Vermont Reads programs in your area. If you activities? don’t see any, reach out to your local library or another community organization to let them know their Anyone in your community may choose to take part. You may be interested in hosting programs for adults, young community members want to participate in Vermont Reads. adults, middle-school students, or all of the above. Vermont Where do I get a book? Reads books are chosen to appeal to a wide range of people: young and old, strong and fragile readers. We count on the community organizations leading local Be sure you know Vermont Reads projects your audience before to loan books to their determining the community members. activity or activities But we still encourage you plan to undertake. everyone who can get No matter who they their hands on a copy to are, involve read this year’s title. participants in Watch our calendar for planning your events that may involve programs — in the book loans, or check choice of activities, the your local library for event details, and the lending copies. Or buy on-site coordination. a copy from your This will help favorite local bookstore, everyone feel invested and when you’re done in the events, and reading, loan it to a increase participation friend or neighbor. dramatically. My book group wants to read this year’s Do participants keep the books? Vermont Reads title. Where do we get We award books to the community organizations that apply, copies? which then keep and manage those copies. We encourage While book groups alone are not eligible to apply for a hosts to distribute, collect, and re-distribute books repeatedly Vermont Reads project, we’re always pleased to see so that as many people as possible can read them. discussions about this year’s title taking place. Contact your Vermont Reads FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – Vermont Humanities Council – Page 3 Vermont Reads March: Book One Frequently Asked Questions Ideally, participants will come to any related program How should we publicize our activities? having read some or all of the book. However, with the Submit the Vermont Reads event form at least one month possible exception of book discussion programs, this should before the event date(s). For each activity, include a title and not be a stringent requirement. After all, an interesting description, plus the date, time, location, and contact discussion may be just the thing to get the person to finish information. VHC will use this information to spread the reading the book! Please make every effort to accommodate word through our web calendar, email newsletters, social beginning readers or those needing a reading partner. Places media channels, and our biannual print newsletter (schedule to contact for assistance include adult basic education and space permitting). centers, libraries, and schools. See Alternate Versions of the Book