News Release

September 17, 2007

Contacts
Leslye Asera, Community Relations Manager (925) 671-3272
lasera@ci.concord.ca.us
Bill Gram-Reefer, WORLDVIEW PR, 925-459-8537
reefer@worldviewpr.com

Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is Concord’s BIG READ selection

Concord unites in October to read and discuss Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 during month-long BIG READ community literacy event.

Concord, CA (Sept. 17, 2007) The Concord Library is set to kick off its month-long October BIG READ that encourages the entire community to read and discuss a single book, Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury.

"The City of Concord is delighted to continue its support of community literacy by partnering with the Concord Library on the BIG READ,” noted Mayor Mark Peterson. “I encourage everyone to read Fahrenheit 451 and participate in the October events."
The month-long BIG READ includes*:

  • Gala kickoff hosted by Contra Costa County Supervisor Susan Bonilla (Mon., Oct. 1)
  • Free copies of Fahrenheit 451 available at BIG READ events, local coffee shops and at the Concord Library.
  • A free screening of the film version of Fahrenheit 451, at Brenden Theatre (Mon., Oct. 15)
  • A Teen “Illustrations” Contest with prizes (month-long)
  • Book discussions at Bay Books, Berkshire Books and other venues throughout Concord
  • Lecture series on topics including censorship, Ray Bradbury in the 21st Century, and more
  • Race for Literacy, 5K sponsored by the Concord Hilton and Concord Rotary (Sat., Oct. 27)

Fahrenheit 451 is Ray Bradbury's 1953 cautionary science fiction tale of a bleak totalitarian future. Firemen don't put out fires, but start them, in order to burn all the books in this society where trivial information is prized while knowledge and ideas are suppressed. Driven by fears of the impact of television in the mid-fifties, as well as concerns about censorship in a free society, Fahrenheit 451 is Bradbury’s masterpiece.

“The Concord BIG READ was created to address the national decline in literary reading as documented in the National Endowment for the Art’s 2004 landmark survey that showed less than half of adult Americans read literature,” explained Concord Librarian Maureen Kilmurray.

“In an age of seemingly mindless reality TV shows and censorship issues from around the world, we chose Fahrenheit 451 because of the timeliness of its themes, and its availability in both English and Spanish.”

Bradbury is the author of over 500 short stories, novels, plays, and poems, including The Martian Chronicles and The Illustrated Man, and is the winner of many awards, including the Grand Master Award from the Science Fiction Writers of America and a special Pulitzer Prize citation in May 2007. Now 87, Bradbury resides in Los Angeles, CA.

In addition to the City of Concord, the Concord Library has joined with the Concord Diablo Rotary, Contra Costa County Supervisor Susan Bonilla’s office, Friends of the Concord Library, Concord Literacy Coalition, and local media and corporate sponsors including Astound Broadband, Contra Costa Times, KKDV-FM, Concord Hilton, JFK University, PGE, and Sam’s Club to present the month-long schedule of activities.

"I am excited to host the kick off for October's Big Read month full of fun and interesting activities,” said Susan Bonilla, Contra Costa County Supervisor (D-IV). “I hope this campaign will bring attention to the wonderful public libraries of Contra Costa County as well as to the importance of books and reading."

The BIG READ is funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and Arts Midwest. The Concord Library is one of just 117 organizations nationwide to receive grants supporting the BIG READ.

For a complete listing of Concord BIG READ events scheduled throughout the month of October visit www.ccclib.org/programs/conc.html#bigread

For more information, contact Maureen Kilmurray, Concord Librarian, (925) 646-5455 ext. 11; mkilmurr@ccclib.org

The BIG READ
Fahrenheit 451 Schedule of Events
October 2007 – Concord, CA

Date Time Place Program
Sept. 20 – Oct. 20 No specific Library events & several locations around the City Free copies of the book Fahrenheit 451 in English & Spanish will be available.
Oct. 1-
Oct. 31		 24 hours Online Wiki at
http://concordbigread.pbwiki.com/  or www.ccclib.org		 Join our online “Wiki” to see the Big Read Calendar of Events,  discuss Fahrenheit 451 and see  historical, biographical and interesting factual information on Fahrenheit 451
Oct 1 –31 Library open hours Application and submissions to Concord Library by Oct. 31. Awards given on Nov. 4 at Gallery Concord. Teen Illustration Contest –Teens in grades 7 – 12 create illustrations from the book or on subjects of Science Fiction or technology.
Oct. 1 6- 7:00 PM County Supervisor Susan Bonilla’s Office, 2151 Salvio St, Concord Kick off event for Concord’s BIG READ.
Oct. 1 7-8:30 PM “Be Cool” fire safety program for  Families  –Concord Library Representatives from the Contra Costa Fire Department will talk about fire safety.
Oct. 2 6:30 PM Concord City Hall City Proclamation declaring October BIG READ month
Oct. 4,11, 7-8 PM Concord Library Book Discussion
Oct. 6,13,20 2-4 PM Concord Library Science Fiction Film Festival - “Dystopian Societies”
Oct. 9 10:30 AM Concord Library See a REAL Fire truck from the Contra Costa County Fire Dept.
Oct. 10, 17 24 10-11 AM Concord Senior Center Series of Book Discussions
Oct. 15 7-8:30 PM Concord Library Celebrate the Right to Read! Children and their families are invited to “make a book”
Oct. 15 7- 8:30 PM Brenden Theatre Showing of the 1966 Francois Truffaut film version  of Fahrenheit 451
Oct. 16 7-8 PM Berkshire Books Book Discussion
Oct. 18 7-8:30 PM       Cal. State Uni. East Bay Campus “30 Years of Censorship Struggles ” lecture and discussion
Oct. 22 7-8 PM Concord Library Children’s Story telling event with Greg Begin
Oct. 9,23,30 6-8 PM Monument Futures Film/Discussion series on “Censorship and Citizenship”
Oct. 25 7-8:30 PM Concord City Hall “Ray Bradbury – the Man and His Works”
Oct. 27 8:30-2 PM Hilton Hotel Race for Literacy + Big Read  foot race
Oct. 29 7-8 PM Bay Books Book Discussion
Oct. 29 7-8:30 PM Concord Library It Came From Outer Space! Science fiction stories and mask-making craft for children.