NEA Big Read: Quincy to kick off Thursday at Quincy Public Library

QUINCY — The NEA Big Read, Quincy’s popular community read for all ages, will kick off at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, at Quincy Public Library.

People will receive a free copy of “Sitting Pretty” by Rebekah Taussig, hear from 7th Ward Alderman Ben Uzelac offering his support and learn from Quincy native Megan Lovelace as she reflects on her life in adaptive sports. This event will be accessible for the deaf community through American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation. Stay after the presentations to learn basics of American Sign Language and try cookies from Calftown Café.

Adaptive resources will be on display along with community partners whose missions align with the themes of the book: Dancer Love Foundation, Special Olympics and Memoirs by Maureen. Accompanying the NEA Big Read is the Little Read for school-aged readers with picture book “Walk Ride Rodeo: A Story About Amberley Snyder” by Amberley Snyder available. Books will be given out while supplies last and must be picked up at the library.

This event kicks-off a month of NEA Big Read: Quincy events that include programming and events
surrounding the themes of “Sitting Pretty,” which discusses living an ordinary life with a disability
while reflecting on how communities view and experience being differently-abled.

NEA Big Read: Quincy will conclude with Snyder, a champion barrel racer, motivational speaker and children’s book author, speaking, leading a Q&A and book signing at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at Quincy Junior High School.

The NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. The National Endowment for the Arts Big Read is designed to broaden the understanding of the world, communities and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book. Quincy Public Library is one of more than 70 nonprofit organizations to receive a grant to host a NEA Big Read project.

For more information, visit www.quincylibrary.org. If you are a person with a disability who requires special assistance for programming or patron materials, call 217-223-1309.