THE BIG READ

 The concept is simple: to have as many people as possible in our community reading the same book at the same time. The Jefferson-Madison Regional Library invites all readers to participate in THE BIG READ as everyone in town discovers detective Sam Spade in Dashiell Hammett’s classic The Maltese Falcon.

Set in San Francisco, the story takes place over a six-day period in 1928. A tough, independent detective, Sam Spade, is hired by the beautiful and mysterious "Miss Wonderly," who walks into his office pleading desperately for help finding her sister. Among many other things, The Maltese Falcon is about what it's like to want something—a fortune, a lover, or even respect—so badly that you would kill or give up a chance at happiness to get it until finally the chase itself means more to you than what you're chasing.

Throughout the months of March and April, JMRL hosts lots of free community programs related to the book. Readers of all ages are encouraged to make the most of their BIG READ experience through movies, lectures, discussions, demonstrations of forensic techniques, exhibits, and more at all branch libraries and other locations throughout the region. Brochures with a complete listing of events are at all branch libraries, and the info is available online.

Launched by the National Endowment for the Arts in 2004 after a survey showed a national decline in the reading of literature, THE BIG READ has become an annual spring tradition. JMRL is pleased to partner with the National Endowment for the Arts to host THE BIG READ in Central Virginia. The kickoff for this year’s event takes place Saturday, Feb 26 at 2pm at the Free Speech Wall on the east end of Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall. 979-7151, ext. 211.