THE GREAT AMERICAN READ is an eight-part television and online series designed to spark a national conversation about reading and the books that have inspired, moved, and shaped us. The series will engage audiences with a list of 100 diverse books. Audiences are encouraged to read the books, vote from the list of 100, and share their personal connections to the titles. The Great American Read premieres Tuesday, May 22 at 8/7c on PBS stations with a launch special, kicking off a summer of reading and voting.

Then in the fall, starting Sept. 11th, seven new episodes of the series will air as the quest to find America’s most beloved book moves into high gear. Episodes from the series will feature appearances by celebrities, athletes, experts, authors, and everyday Americans advocating for their favorite book. The finale will air on Oct. 23rd. Florida Humanities Council and the FLA are proud to co-sponsor the Florida public broadcast of this engaging series. To learn more about The Great American Read click here.

FHC, is offering grants to Florida public libraries to support programming associated with The Great American Read. We encourage partnerships with local public broadcast stations as well as other educational and literary organizations.  Many thanks to FHC for this opportunity!

Grants will be awarded up to $3,000 for programming that will occur between September 1st and October 31, 2018. Grant funds may be used for expenses related to public programming, including: promotional and publicity costs, collection materials (e.g. books, DVDs), speaker/presenter fees, reading and discussion groups, watch parties, etc. Food and alcohol are ineligible expenses for use of FHC funds.

All applications must be submitted on-line. Instructions of how to create an on-line account are below. This is a competitive grant and limited funds are available. Applicants will be required to respond to the following narrative questions:

• Describe the programming your library would like to implement in conjunction with “The Great American Read.” Include the general logistics related to the project, a timeline for all events, and any partnering organizations that will participate.
• Describe your target audience and how you plan to market the project in your community. All public programming should be free and open to the public.
• Identify the staff, including project director, and speakers/presenters that will participate in the project and their respective roles in the project.
• Describe the expected impact of your project on the target audience and how you plan to evaluate its success.

Applicants must also submit a brief budget for the expenditure of grant funds. For questions about the grant, cost-share requirement, or how to apply, please contact Tyler Tarrant, 727-873-2040, [email protected].