The Big Read

Panelists to Discuss Racial Justice Issues

July 7, 2020 By Lisa Grigsby

Layla F. Saad’s book Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor offers a lot to think about, and plenty to discuss. Dayton Metro Library presents an online, recorded Panel Discussion on Wednesday, July 8, 5 – 6 p.m. View the discussion live at www.BigRead.org. The recorded conversation will be posted online for later viewing.

Amelia Robinson, Dayton Daily News Community Impact Editor, will moderate the discussion. The panelists are:

Debbie Feldman, President and CEO, Dayton Children’s Hospital

Shannon Isom, President & CEO, YWCA Dayton

Kevin M. Kelly, Executive Director, Dayton International Peace Museum

Brian O. Martin, AICP, Executive Director, Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission

Questions or comments for the panelists to consider should be submitted in advance at the Facebook event page or online here.

“This will surely be an important conversation for our community as we all work to push Dayton forward,” Amelia Robinson said.

“We have no doubt that hearing from these respected community leaders will help all of us better understand racism locally, and feel more knowledgeable and confident discussing ways we can move our community forward as a result,” said Tim Kambitsch, Library Executive Director.

Me and White Supremacy takes readers on a 28-day journey to dismantle the privilege within themselves so that they can stop (often unconsciously) inflicting damage on people of color, and in turn, help other white people to do better, too. It is available for unlimited borrowing in eBook and Audiobook formats through OverDriveat DaytonMetroLibrary.org through July 31, meaning an unlimited number of readers can borrow and read the book at the same time.

“I was motivated to become involved in this project because it is only through honest and often painful dialogue can we ever hope to make progress,” said Kevin Kelly of the Dayton International Peace Museum. “We have a long-overdue opportunity and a responsibility to find permanent solutions and fresh ideas on how to finally end the timeless scourge of racism and inequity in this country.”

“I feel it is important to participate in this project because this movement is so very painful for everyone,” said MVRPC’s Brian Martin. “We feel like we need to do something. I’m hopeful that this Big Read will lead to more discussions across the area, Ohio, and the Nation.”

View the discussion live at www.BigRead.org. The recorded conversation will be posted online for later viewing. For more information about the book, the author, or other ways to continue the conversation, visit The Big Read website.

The Big Read is Going to the Dogs

February 12, 2018 By Lisa Grigsby

The Big Read is going to the dogs! The annual community reading project hosted by area libraries, colleges, Books & Co., and others, is focused this spring on the unique ability of dogs to impact human lives.

By popular vote last fall, readers chose The Underdogs: Children, Dogs, and the Power of Unconditional Love by Melissa Fay Greene to be the topic of book discussions and special events taking place March 4-April 14 across the Miami Valley. The Underdogs tells the story of Xenia, Ohio-based service dog organization, 4 Paws for Ability and its founder, Karen Shirk. The book weaves the latest scientific discoveries with Karen’s story and the stories of children with disabilities and their families.

Sponsoring libraries have a variety of dog-focused programs scheduled – ranging from dog massage to basic obedience to K-9 law enforcement and more. 4 Paws for Ability will lead more than a dozen programs giving insight into their service dog training program, along with demonstrations by a dog in training. There are also more than 30 book discussions scheduled at participating libraries.

“The book showcases a nationally recognized organization that is based right here in the Miami Valley, and we’re looking forward to all the excellent discussions and other programs related to the book and its themes,” said Dayton Metro Library’s Ben Murphy, co-chair of The Big Read.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Author Melissa Fay Greene, along with 4 Paws founder Karen Shirk, pays a visit to the Dayton Metro Library on Thursday, April 12, 6:00 pm in the Main Library’s Eichelberger Forum. They will talk about the book, the dogs that are trained at 4 Paws, and the wonderful families they serve. Audience questions are welcome.

“We’re eager to learn about how Ms. Greene researched her book, how she worked with Ms. Shirk on the project, and to hear more about families who have been impacted by the unconditional love of dogs,” said Murphy. It will be a homecoming for the author, who lived in Dayton when she was a child. The program is free and open to the public.

A complete schedule of events, as well as information on the book and the author, is available at BigRead.org.

Help Choose The Next Big Read Book

October 10, 2016 By Lisa Grigsby

Ballots will soon be cast not only for President, but also for the next Big Read title. Each spring, the Big Read invites Miami Valley residents to read and talk about the same book, which is chosen by popular vote.

Over the course of the summer, a selection committee of local librarians and volunteers narrowed an initial list of 48 titles down to four finalists. Votes can be cast at public libraries, academic libraries, Books & Co., or online at BigRead.org from September 12-October 23, 2016. The winning title will be announced at the end of October.

The four finalists for the 2017 Big Read are:

Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters In the End by Atul Gawande
(Nonfiction) Gawande, a practicing surgeon, argues that quality of life is the desired goal for patients and families of the terminally ill. Full of eye-opening research and riveting storytelling, Being Mortal asserts that medicine can comfort and enhance our experience, providing not only a good life but also a good end.

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
(Memoir) In a bold and personal literary exploration of America’s racial history, Ta-Nehisi Coates has written a series of essays to his adolescent son, exploring both personal and historical events. From his analysis of the concept of race, to the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement, Coates sums up the history of black people in the United States.

Lock In by John Scalzi
(Science Fiction) Written by a Hugo Award-winning local author from Bradford and set in the not too distant future, a virus has swept the globe causing 1% of the world’s population to become “locked in” – fully awake and aware, but unable to move or respond to stimulus. This is the background for a murder investigation that becomes something much more.

The Wright Brothers by David McCullough
(Biography) Drawing on nearly 1,000 letters of family correspondence plus diaries, notebooks and scrapbooks in the Library of Congress, McCullough tells the extraordinary American story of the two Dayton brothers who changed the world.

The Dayton Metro Library launched the Big Read in 2005 and it has been growing larger ever since.

“With the recent additions of Bradford Public Library and Wright State University, the Big Read now includes 11 public library systems and three academic libraries spread across eight counties, as well as a bookstore and a nonprofit literacy organization,” said Ben Murphy, Materials Selection Librarian at the Dayton Metro Library and co-chair of the Big Read. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to get people across the Miami Valley reading and talking about the same great book.”

Visit BigRead.org to cast your vote and get more information on the next Big Read, past Big Read books and scheduled activities. Voting closes October 23, 2016.

Bargains for Everyone at the Dayton Metro Library Spring Booksale

March 20, 2014 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Dayton Metro Library’s Big Spring Booksale! The sale takes place April 4-6 at Hara Arena’s East Hall, 1001 Shiloh Springs Road. Sale hours on Friday are 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. while supplies last. Admission and parking are free.

There are thousands of books for children and adults, plus CDs, DVDs, audiocassettes, videos and more, all at bargain basement prices. All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Library, which in turn supports the Dayton Metro Library with sponsorship of the summer reading clubs, The Big Read and other vital financial assistance.

“Shoppers should stop by the special collection area at the sale,” said Chris Corba, booksale coordinator for the Friends. “We’ll have an assortment of books pulled from the library’s local history collection available for purchase. There will also be some used library furniture available as well. These items will be individually priced.”

If you need more information about the booksale, please contact the library’s Community and External Relations office at 496-8901.

ABOUT DAYTON METRO LIBRARY

The Dayton Metro Library is one of the oldest and largest public library systems in Ohio, consistently ranking among the best in the nation. The DML consists of 20 branch locations in Montgomery County, Outreach Services and the Main Library in downtown Dayton. In order to fulfill its mission to inform, inspire and enrich the community, the DML offers programs, materials and services for all ages and stages of life. It is funded in part by a portion of the state income tax and local levy support.

Specialized services and resources are available for schools, small businesses, nonprofit organizations, literacy providers and job seekers. The library houses a unique collection of local history materials. Computers are available free of charge for public use and computer instruction is available at many library locations.

In November, 2012, Montgomery County voters passed a $187 million bond issue to fund new construction and renovations for the DML. Highlights of the multi-phase, multi-year project include consolidating branches from 20 to 16, establishing an offsite operations center and completely renovating the Main Library. When the project is complete in 2017, library users will enjoy modern, efficient facilities providing superior services and technology for the 21st century. Progress on the project is posted regularly on the DML website at DaytonMetroLibrary.org.

The Big Read is Back and It’s Wild!

February 20, 2014 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

After taking last year off, the Big Read community reading project is back and it’s wild, literally! Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail is the Big Read selection for 2014. This is the ninth year for the project which invites the community to read and talk about the same book. The Big Read runs March 10-April 19 with book discussions and other activities taking place throughout the Dayton area.

Wild is equal parts outdoor adventure tale and personal memoir of grief and healing by author Cheryl Strayed. It has been a New York Times Bestseller, an Oprah’s Book Club selection and is currently being made into a major motion picture starring Reese Witherspoon.

The Big Read kicks off on Sunday, March 9, at 2:00 p.m. in the Dayton Metro Library Auditorium with “A Hike on the Wild Side.” Local hikers Brent and Amy Anslinger will share a first-hand account of their own hike on the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. They’ll share experiences from their 2,650 mile journey on foot through some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. The Anslingers will also present their program on Monday, March 10, 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark.

“If you enjoy a stroll in nature, a rugged hike in the mountains or just hearing about them from the comfort of a chair, the Anslingers will spark your imagination. Then read Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail and talk about it with your friends and neighbors, ” said Jean Gaffney, Manager of Acquisition and Collection Development for the Dayton Metro Library and co-chair of The Big Read committee.

There will be many opportunities for readers to meet and talk about the book. Discussions are scheduled at public libraries as well as Books and Co., Wright State University, The University of Dayton, Brixx Ice Co., coffee shops and other venues. The outdoor wrap-up event at Hills and Dales MetroPark, “The Big Read Hits the Trail,” is scheduled for April 12 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.Events include outdoor hiking instructions, equipment vendors, food trucks, giveaways and more. Visit BigRead.org for a complete schedule of events, book reviews, author information and more.

“The Big Read is a great opportunity to get people reading and talking together,” said Jean Gaffney. “This particular book gives us a lot to talk about. It appeals equally to outdoor adventurers and people looking for a book about personal reflection and redemption. The fact that it will soon be a feature film is a bonus!”

The Big Read is sponsored by Books and Co. and Friends of the Dayton Metro Library. Partners include: Dayton Metro Library, Franklin-Springboro Public Library, Greene County Public Library, Five Rivers MetroParks, National College, Preble County District Library, Project READ, Sinclair Community College, Tipp City Public Library, Troy-Miami County Public Library, University of Dayton, Washington-Centerville Public Library and Wright Memorial Public Library.

ABOUT DAYTON METRO LIBRARY