Fiesta Literacy and Information Fair September 8, 2007

HPL invites all Houstonians to join together to read Rudolfo Anaya’s “Bless Me, Ultima” for the annual The Big Read Books on the Bayou: Houston Reads Together Program. Presented by The Big Read and sponsored by the Houston Public Library, the Houston Chronicle, and the City of Houston, Books on the Bayou brings together Houstonians to read the same book at the same time, provoking discussion among co-workers, friends, families and classrooms. The program cultivates a culture of reading in Houston by encouraging people to visit libraries, bookstores, community centers, homes, churches, and schools to discuss the featured book.

The Fiesta Literacy and Information Fair will held on Saturday, September 8th at 11 a.m. to kick off The Big Read Books on the Bayou: Houston Reads Together Program. The fiesta will include food, crafts, giveaways, and music by Los Trio Latinos and John Acevedo. At 1 p.m., Mayor White will kick of the citywide program. This event will be held at Park Place Regional Library, 8145 Park Place Blvd. 77017, 832-393-1970.

Fiesta Literacy and Information Fair
Saturday, September 8 th at 11 a.m.
Park Place Regional Library
8145 Park Place Blvd. 77017, 832-393-1970

Houston Public Library was recently awarded a $15,000 Big Read grant by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in recognition of its city-wide Books on the Bayou: Houston Reads Together program. This grant will help fund the Books on the Bayou program, presented free at all Houston Public Library neighborhood locations September 8-October 28, 2007. A calendar of events listing presentations and group book discussions will be made available at HPL neighborhood libraries, or online.

The Big Read is a program that brings the Houston community together to read the same book at the same time.

Bless Me, UltimaThis year's The Big Read Books on the Bayou: Houston Reads Together Featured book is "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya.

Anaya's coming-of-age story in post-World War II New Mexico. Full of dreams, legends, prayers, and folkways, it presents a world where everyday life is still enchanted. It awakens our imagination and enlarges our humanity.

Books are available in Spanish.

Events
A complete list of events is available (http://www.houstonlibrary.org/booksonthebayou/events.html). All events are free and open to the public.

This event is part of The Big Read (http://www.neabigread.org/), an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest.

Books on the Bayou is a citywide reading program brought to you by the Houston Public Library, the City of Houston, the Houston Chronicle, and the Loan Star Grant.

Funded in part by a Loan Star Libraries Grant authorized by the Texas Legislature and awarded to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to the Houston Public Library.

Official Website: http://www.houstonlibrary.org/booksonthebayou/index.html