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Healey Library - The Big Read of Eastern Massachusetts

Home » The Big Read of Eastern Massachusetts

The Big Read of Eastern Massachusetts


The Big Read Program Information:



The Healey Library is pleased to be participating in The Big Read of Eastern Massachusetts with UMass Boston, WUMB-FM, and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The Big Read is an initiative of the NEA designed to restore reading to the center of American culture.

The book we are using for this program is To Kill a Mockingbird, as it was the overwhelming choice in an online poll WUMB-FM conducted this past summer and its still-timely themes lend themselves to a number of exciting events and activities. Copies of To Kill a Mockingbird are available for loan to the general public and to the UMB community from January 30th through May 1st for up to 2 months at the Healey Library's Circulation Desk. You can also visit your local public library to borrow a copy of the book.

We would particularly like to see schools and libraries get involved. Boston-area libraries will be able to receive a few copies of the book as well as copies of the Reader's Guides to distribute, and Audio Guides to lend. An online teacher's guide is available here: To request copies of "To Kill a Mockingbird" and Reader's guides for your local library or school, contact Kim Trauceniek at 617-287-5921 or via email at kim.trauceniek@umb.edu. Please keep in mind that supplies are limited and distributed on a first-come, first serve basis.

The NEA website for The Big Read is www.neabigread.org where you can find complete information about this program. Simply click on "About The Big Read," then click on "FAQs" on the dropdown menu.

Who are the Eastern Massachusetts Partners?


Primary partners include: Dozens of other local organizations are also join in this initiative. You can too!

Scheduled Events:

  • Wednesday, January 30 at 6:30pm
    Healey Library 11th floor room 11 @ UMass Boston. To Kill a Mockingbird Kick off Event.

  • Tuesday, February 19th at 5:30- Healey Library 4th floor @UMass Boston, room 15, Center for Library Instruction. Book discussion on To Kill a Mockingbird facilitated by UMB's MFA Creative Writing program.

  • Thursday, April 10th at 5:30
    In the Center for Library Instruction, room 4/15—Groups discussion on themes from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee as part of the Big Read of Eastern Massachusetts. Hosted by the Healey Library and the Creative Writing Program at UMB. All are welcome. Themes include: Good and Evil; Coming of Age/Loss of Innocence; and the Influence of the Community.

  • Wednesday, April 16 at 7:00 pm
    Framingham Public Library, Costin Room. Film: To Kill a Mockingbird1 (129 minutes) w/Gregory Peck & Robert Duvall.

  • Thursday, April 17 at 4:30
    Framingham State College. Panel Discussion on To Kill a Mockingbird.
Aspects of Mockingbird Film Series d at the Adams Street Library (Branch of Boston Public Library) Dorchester, MA
  • Wednesday, April 9th @ 2:00pm
    The Murder of Emmett Till (60 minutes)

  • Wednesday, April 16th @ 2:00pm
    Best Boy (103 minutes)

  • Wednesday, April 23rd @ 2:00pm
    Capote (114 minutes)

  • Wednesday, April 30th @ 2:00pm
    Alabama (49 minutes)

Saturday May 10th, a "Mockingbird Festival" will be held on the UMass Boston Campus to celebrate the successful conclusion of the program. This event will likely involve everything "Mockingbird" we can think of from music, to panel discussions and dramatic skits, to art & essay contests, the songwriting finals, and maybe even to a workshop on building birdhouses, to... you name it. We'll need lots of volunteers to help make this event a success. Let us know if you are interested in helping to organize the Festival at bigread@wumb.org.

For Events and Programs Hosted by WUMB Radio such as a songwriting contest of, a Mockingbird MySpace page, book giveaways and more go to www.wumb.org.

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