San Leandro Library Kickoffs Big Read Program of “Sun, Stone and Shadows”

Feb. 7, 2012 - PRLog -- The San Leandro Library, which is fortunate to be the recipient of a second Big Read grant, will kick off an exciting series of Big Read events for 2012. The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest. The Big Read provides people the opportunity to read and discuss a single book within their community. The San Leandro Public Library has selected for its community to read an anthology of some of Mexico’s finest authors titled Sun, Stone and Shadows: 20 Great Mexican Short Stories. The Big Read 2012 program will run from March 2012 through May 2012.

“This year’s Big Read program offers a wonderful opportunity for all San Leandrans to learn more about the tremendous contributions and influence of the people of Mexico on the culture and vitality of our city and state," said Mayor Stephen Cassidy.  “I congratulate our Library Department for its continued success in obtaining grants that promote reading and help us celebrate the rich diversity of San Leandro.”

A special “Coffee with the Mayor” meeting for San Leandro’s Spanish speaking community will be held on Saturday, March 3 at 1 pm at the Main Library, 300 Estudillo Avenue in downtown San Leandro.  The meeting will be translated into Spanish.  Then, the Big Read 2012 kickoff event will follow at 2 pm also at the Main Library.  Attendees for the kickoff will enjoy a live cooking demonstration of Mexican cuisine and those who sign up for a book discussion group will receive a free copy of the anthology while supplies last. Copies are available in either Spanish or English. Registration for book clubs will immediately follow this event. Refreshments served. Admission is free.

Other Big Read 2012 events include a reading at the historic San Leandro Railway Depot on Saturday, March 10, the screening of the highly acclaimed Mexican film Nora’s Will on Friday, March 16, a Literary Gathering with renowned Mexican author and editor of Sun, Stone and Shadows Jorge F. Hernández on Friday, March 23 and a Panel Discussion with Mr. Hernández and the Bibliotecas Para la Gente the following day.  A field trip to the Mexican Museum in San Francisco on Saturday, March 31 is also planned. Tickets, which will go on sale starting at 12 noon on February 27 at the Main Library, are $30 per person.

The whole program will end with the Grand Finale Fiesta, which is by special invitation to those that participated in a Sun, Stone and Shadows book discussion group. This event will be on Saturday, May 12.

For more information about any of the Big Read 2012 program events, please call the Information Desk at (510) 577-3971.

About San Leandro
A diverse community of nearly 85,000 residents centrally located in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Leandro maintains a safe, small town feel where neighbors care for each other, while offering a wide range of shopping, dining, recreation, miles of shoreline, and easy access to nearby regional parks and nature areas.  Over the past decade the community has invested more than $250 million in renovating and modernizing its public schools and building state-of-the-art facilities for students.  

Possessing a rich manufacturing history, businesses in San Leandro enjoy multiple advantages including a large industrial and commercial zone, close proximity to the Oakland International Airport and Port of Oakland, two major freeways, two BART stations, and access to a large and well-educated workforce in the city and East Bay.  Through a public-private partnership, known as Lit San Leandro, a ten mile fiber optic loop is being constructed in the city, assisting a new set of businesses to leverage San Leandro’s assets and become industry leaders in the data revolution.  Further information about Lit San Leandro can be found at http://www.litsanleandro.com/

Visit the City’s website at www.sanleandro.org for more information on the City’s programs and services.  To register to automatically receive press releases, meeting agendas or other electronic notifications, go to http://www.sanleandro.org/portal/default.asp.