The Tyler Public Library has extended its deadline for The Big Read Essay Contest to 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 23. The subject of the essay is “A Family’s Journey” and should tell the story of a family journey though time, across distance or through extraordinary circumstances.
The essay contest is a part of the 2010 Big Read, which encourages community members to read or re-read “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck. Tyler Public Library was awarded a $20,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for participation in the 2010 Big Read.
The Big Read Essay Contest began in January and now continues for an extra week through March 23. In the spirit of “hard times”, the Library has chosen to waive the entry fee. Short stories or essays may be fiction or non-fiction and should contain 2,000 words or less. There are four age groups to enter with one winner and one honorable mention per group. The age groups are:
- Children: grades 3-5;
- Young Adult I: grades 6-9;
- Young Adult II: grades 10-12; and,
- Adult: ages 18 and above.
Prizes include a cash prize of $25 from the Friends of the Library for each winner in an age category, plus publication in a collection of winning essays. Winners and honorable mentions will each receive two copies of the publication. The entries will be judged by a panel to include an educator, historian, journalist and library Board member.
Submissions must be typed, preferably in Microsoft Word and submitted electronically to programs@tylertexas.com.
The Big Read Essay Contest winners will be announced at the Azalea Tales event on Saturday, March 27; from 2-5 p.m.
Tyler is one of 269 communities nationwide participating in The Big Read during this grant cycle. To date, the NEA has funded more than 800 Big Read programs in the nation’s towns and cities.
The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) 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. Transportation for The Big Read is provided by Ford.
The Big Read Tyler program partners include: Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Discovery Science Place, East Texas Storytellers, East Texas Symphony Orchestra, Smith County Historical Society, Tyler Museum of Art, Tyler Civic Theatre, UT-Tyler, the Tyler Morning Telegraph and KLTV-Channel 7. Local businesses and organizations are encouraged to join this venture. For more information, please call (903) 593-7323 or email programs@tylertexas.com.