Ever had the burning desire to engage in a public speaking adventure and read something out loud in the middle of the library? You probably always held yourself back out of fear of getting the librarian’s dreaded “shush.”
Now, the Morinville Community Library is letting you indulge your secret dreams, even if it happens at 3:30 a.m.
The first-ever Read-a-thon starts with a pre-event party at 11 a.m. on Friday and the actual readings go from noon all the way to 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 4. That’s a 50-hour event for those with stopwatches.
“It’s straight through, so the library is going to be open for those two-and-a-half days,” said library supervisor Ashley Cain, adding that the event was designed as a way to draw interest in the library’s 50th anniversary, happening this fall.
“We were trying to think of something we could do to build up a little bit of hype around the library and get people thinking about it. That was the way that the idea was born but because it fits so perfectly into our plan of service as a promotion of literacy and language and libraries, it seemed like a no-brainer. We all got pretty excited about it.”
The event is divided up into 15-minute time slots and each individual or group reader must commit to that minimum amount.
“You can read as much as you want above and beyond that. If you wanted to sign up for an hour, you could. Or you could read different slots throughout the 50 hours. Whatever works.”
Before signing up, the reader must have their reading chosen as well. That means you can choose any of your own writing, anyone else’s writing, or anything at all. You could read the dictionary if that’s your wont. The only restriction is that adult material can only be read between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
“Other than that, they can read whatever they want.”
Author Eva Blaskovic is set to take the stage sometime on the Saturday afternoon. She has a variety of material at the ready (including her book Beyond the Precipice), depending on what kind of audience gathers for her. She describes herself as a writer, not a reader but is nevertheless thrilled to have the chance to engage people with a tale or two.
“What a great idea for a 50th anniversary celebration!” she said.
Clearing her throat and doing her voice exercises as well is science fiction/fantasy author Barb Galler Smith. She also will be prepared for different audiences but she will most likely read from a new and untitled work in progress during her turn on Saturday evening. It’s a Victorian adventure, she explained.
“It has a bit of mystery, romance, real history and possibly dragons, or pterodactyls, I haven't quite decided yet.”
Morinville-Gibbons Free Press reporter and author Cynthia Wandler has signed up for a Friday early evening time slot. She will read her creative non-fiction essay Wonderberry Jam, recently published by The Hopper. Joining her will be her daughter who will read a selection from a graphic novel called The Courageous Princess.
“We signed up because we love the library and want to support it, and we both enjoy reading aloud. I'm also looking forward to being in the audience – public readings expose us to new stories and to new ways of hearing stories, which I love.”
Just in case you love the idea but don’t actually want to be a reader, the library is open to all as always.
“We really just want it to be a fun thing for people to come down and do, which is why we’re also encouraging people to come down and listen as well, if they’re not comfortable or not interested in reading.”
Anyone interested in participating can register for a timeslot at the library circulation desk in person, by calling 780-939-3292, or by email via the contact form on the library’s website at www.morinvillelibrary.ca.
