This year’s Pierce County READS burst through communities and ignited sparks of interest and conversations that engaged thousands of residents during the largest reading event in the county. Pierce County READS involves thousands of people reading, sharing and talking about the same book at the same time.
The culminating event featured this year’s selected author, Pulitzer Prize winner Timothy Egan, who spoke with a crowd of 500 at Clover Park Technical College on Saturday, April 30. See photos from the event.
“Tim delighted and entertained the audience with further insights that went into his researching and writing of this year’s selected book, the best-selling “The Big Burn,” said Neel Parikh, executive director of Pierce County Library. “He captured the audience’s interest and sparked their laughter.”
Pierce County READS ran March 5 through April 30. The stats of community involvement speak to the program’s success:
5,499: Times people checked out copies of “The Big Burn” from Pierce County Library.
500: People who attended the author event.
2,660: People who attended events at Pierce County Library and community partner locations.
23: Community partners who helped promote, offered events, and other assistance for Pierce County READS.
18: Cities, towns, and Pierce County issued proclamations.
As a community service element of the program, people donated nonperishable food items at all events. A Pierce County READS’ community partner, Emergency Food Network, will distribute the food to people in need throughout the county.
Pierce County Library and The News Tribune present Pierce County READS, sponsored by KeyBank Foundation. Dozens of community partners participated in Pierce County READS: Associated Ministries, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Clover Park Technical College, Emergency Food Network, Garfield Book Company, The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, King’s Books, Lakewood Arts Commission, Lakewood Historical Society and History Museum, Lewis-McChord Library System, Mostly Books, Pacific Lutheran University, Pierce College, Pierce County Library Foundation and donors, Pierce County Library Friends organizations, Puyallup Public Library, Roy Public Library, Sumner Arts Commission, Tacoma Art Museum, University of Puget Sound and Wilcox Farms Inc.
Early next year, the Library System will announce its Pierce County READS book for 2012.
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Contact: Mary Getchell, Communications Director