"The Big Read" Nearing Halfway Point

MASSENA - Organizers of "The Big Read" at the Massena Public Library say the month of activities has been going very well as they get close to the halfway point.

As a sign of how well things have gone, Youth Services Librarian Elaine Dunne-Thayer said they handed out free copies of F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" for adults to read this month and they've exhausted their supply.

They had both regular-size and large print versions of the book, both of which are now in hands of readers.

"I'd love to keep handing out 'The Great Gatsby' to anybody who wants them. We are as of today out of 'Great Gatsby's,'" Ms. Dunne-Thayer said Tuesday.

Unfortunately, they already tied up much of the grant funding they received to sponsor "The Big Read" into the books, she said.

Library Assistant Debbie Fuehring, who worked with Ms. Dunne-Thayer to secure funding for the event, said they had purchased 300 copies of the book.

"We had to decide what part of the grant money to put toward books. It is the lion's share," she said.

Not that exhausting their supply of "The Great Gatsby" is a bad thing, according to the youth services librarian.

"We're very, very pleased," Ms. Dunne-Thayer said.

The month-long event kicked off on Feb. 27 with an opening reception at the library, and it's been going strong ever since, she said. The events so far have included moves at the New York Power Authority's Hawkins Point Visitor Center, book discussions and music. Library Director Paul L. Schaffer said a concert last Saturday by the Pine Ridge Rounders, featuring traditional bluegrass music, drew a large crowd.

Still to come are more movie presentations at 1:30 p.m. Thursday afternoons until March 25 at Hawkins Point; more discussions at the library; more music, with a concert by "Minor Swing" at 7 p.m. March 17; and a jewelry-making workshop of the 1920s at 2 p.m. Saturday.

There are also ongoing events such as a "Life in Massena During the Roaring 20s" exhibit at the library, a 1920s display at the Massena Museum and a middle read trivia contest every Saturday through March 27.

A full schedule of activities is available at the library's front circulation desk.

"All in all we're very pleased so far at the halfway point or close to it," Ms. Dunne-Thayer said.

The hardest part, she said, was scheduling activities and getting the word out. And now, with that part done, they like everyone else are enjoying the activities.