LIVE CONCERT AT THE LIBRARY

The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative will host acoustic folk musician Jack Williams on Thursday, Jan. 8, 7 p.m. at the Brandon Regional Library, 619 Vonderburg Drive.

Enjoy an evening listening to the renditions of folk guitarist Jack Williams, a nationally acclaimed musician and songwriter who will leave listeners spellbound with his unique sound. Sing Out Magazine describes him as "one of the strongest guitarists in contemporary folk."

This program is cosponsored by the Friends of the Brandon Library- Brandon Regional Library.

For more information about this and other FREE programs @ your library®, library patrons should call (813) 273-3652, or visit hcplc.org.

LIBRARY CELEBRATES HISPANIC HERITAGE

The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative announces the 5th Annual Hispanic Heritage Contests - one for students in grades K-5, and another for adults 18 years and older.

In celebration of Hillsborough County’s Hispanic Heritage, Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative (HCPLC) is presenting the 5th Annual Bookmark Contest for children in kindergarten through fifth grade, September 1 - September 30. Children may pick up an entry form at any library branch to design a bookmark celebrating “Our Hispanic Heritage.” Entries need to be returned to any public library no later than September 30. The first place winner in each category will receive a US Savings Bond of $100 and 100 copies of their winning bookmark. The second place winner will receive a $50 US Savings Bond and 100 copies of their bookmark.

The adult poetry contest entry forms can be picked up at any library branch or downloaded from the Library’s website: hcplc.org. Contestants must be at least 18 years old. Poems must be original compositions, no longer than one page, and written in Spanish. Themes must be appropriate for a general audience. Completed entry forms and poems must be turned into any library branch no later than September 30.

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at the John F. Germany Public Library, 900 North Ashley Drive in downtown Tampa, in the auditorium Sunday, November 16 at 2 pm. The first place winner will receive $200, the second place winner will receive $100, and the third place winner will receive $50.

The contest is cosponsored by the Friends of the Tampa-Hillsborough County, Inc., Centro Mi Diario, The Tampa Tribune and Pollo Tropical.

For more information about this and other FREE programs @ your library, please call (813) 273-3652 or visit hcplc.org.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY LIBRARY RECEIVES BIG READ GRANT

Hillsborough County to read and celebrate Their Eyes Were Watching God during Big Read project.

The Hillsborough-County Public Library Cooperative today announced that it has received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to host The Big Read in Hillsborough County. The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative is one of 208 libraries, municipalities, and arts, culture, higher education, and science organizations to receive a grant to host The Big Read from September 2008-June 2009. The Big Read gives communities the opportunity to come together to read, discuss, and celebrate one of 23 selections from American and world literature. The Big Read in Hillsborough County will focus on Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. Activities will take place September 1-30.

The latest Big Read grantees represent 46 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. To date, the NEA has given more than 500 grants to support local Big Read projects.

“We are pleased to be participating in this worthwhile initiative that enables readers all over to explore and share the celebration of extraordinary American Classic Literature. The partnership with The Big Read, along with schools, museums and media, is a wonderful way to connect people and communities,” said Joe Stines, Director of Libraries.

“Everything the NEA does we do in partnership. I am delighted to announce our 208 new partners in The Big Read. Some are new to the program, some are returning, but all of them have answered the call to action to get our country reading again,” said NEA Chairman Dana Gioia.

The selected organizations will receive Big Read grants ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 to promote and carry out community-based reading programs featuring activities such as read-a-thons, book discussions, lectures, movie screenings, and performing arts events. Participating communities also receive high-quality, free-ofcharge educational materials to supplement each title, including Reader’s, Teacher’s, and Audio Guides.

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. Support for The Big Read is provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

For more information about The Big Read please visit http://www.neabigread.org/.