Wayne County Reads kicks off programs Monday
By Staff Reports
Published in News on January 29, 2010 1:46 PM
Wayne County Reads will kick off its 2010 "Season of Reading" with a discussion on "Fahrenheit 451 and Ray Bradbury." The event will be Monday at 7 p.m. in Moffatt Auditorium at Wayne Community College.
The book, chosen by the public, is the first science fiction work to be the focus of the annual reading campaign.
Tara Humphries of Wayne Community College said the choice will expand the selection of books the seven-year-old program has made.
"How nice they picked a classic," she said, noting that the book deals with the right of citizens to read what they want in a futuristic society.
"The fact that it deals with reading and censorship is very timely," Ms. Humphries said.
The speaker will be science fiction novelist John Kessel, who is a two-time winner of the Nebula Award, which is presented annually by Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America to celebrate excellence in science fiction and fantasy writing.
Kessel's "Pride and Prometheus" was named best novelette of 2008. The story was also nominated for a 2009 Hugo Award. Since 1982, he has been an English professor at N.C. State University and heads its creative writing program.
The speech is made possible by a grant from the Goldsboro Rotary Club.
Following the talk, the WCC Read Between the Lines Book Club will hold a reception, during which Kessel will meet readers and autograph his books, some of which will be available for purchase.
"Fahrenheit 451" also will be for sale. Only cash or checks will be accepted.
All Wayne County Reads events are free and no reservations are required.
"Fahrenheit 451" can be borrowed from libraries across Wayne County, including those at Wayne Community College and the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Library. Two hundred extra copies were borrowed from the Center for the Book in Raleigh for this session of Wayne County Reads. The book also can be purchased from the Wayne Community College bookstore and Books-A-Million.
Visit waynereads.com or call 735-1824 for more details. The organization also has a Facebook page.
Wayne County Reads is a one book, one-community project started in 2004.
Partners are the Arts Council of Wayne County, Mount Olive College, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Library, Wayne Community College, Wayne County Historical Association, Wayne County Public Library, and Wayne County Public Schools. Funding for 2010 activities has been provided by the Friends of the Wayne County Public Library and the Goldsboro Rotary Club.
Other events will include:
* Wednesday, Feb. 3, noon book discussion with Brown Bag Book Club, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Library, which is open to anyone with base access.
* Sunday, Feb. 7, 2 p.m., a showing of the classic science fiction movie, "Gattaca," in the Gertrude Weil Auditorium at the Wayne County Public Library at 1001 E. Ash St.
* Monday, Feb. 8, 7 p.m., "What Reading Means to a Reader" by Dr. David Carr, professor in the School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, at the auditorium at the Wayne County Public Library.
* Thursday, Feb. 11, 5 p.m., book discussion, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Library (open to anyone with base access) .
* Saturday, Feb. 13, 2 p.m., a showing of the modern animated science fiction movie, "Wall-E," for children and adults at the Wayne County Public Library.
* Sunday, Feb. 14, 2 p.m., a showing of the science fiction movie "The Stepford Wives," (original version) at the Wayne County Public Library
* Monday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m., a panel discussion on "Fear of Ideas: Modern Day Implications of the Theme of Censorship in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451," with Dr. John Harer, assistant professor of the East Carolina University Department of Library Science, Dr. Julie Hersberger, associate professor of library science at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Sherwin Rice, director of the Bladen Community College Library. The discussion will be held at the Wayne County Museum at 116 N. William St.
* Sunday, Feb. 21, 2 p.m., a showing of the classic science fiction movie, "Fahrenheit 451," at the Wayne County Public Library.
* Monday, Feb. 22, 7 p.m. "Science Fiction, Science Fact" panel discussion, moderated by Mount Olive College English Professor Dr. Linda Holland-Toll, WCC Science Department Chair Ralph Benedetto, WCC Reference Librarian Rachel McWilliams, and WCC Information Systems Instructor Banks Peacock; Murphy Center, Mount Olive College, Mount Olive
* Monday, March 1, "Read Across America Day," 7 p.m., "Free to Read" reception with announcement and reading of winning "What Book Would I Save?" essays from high school essay contest, and other activities at the Arts Council of Wayne County at 2406 East Ash St.