Maine Humanities Council — Home of the Harriet P. Henry Center for the Book

• Book discussions of The Kite Runner for adults, and Breadwinner for teens, were held at libraries and other locations such as elderly housing and YMCA in all four communities. The discussions, which were scheduled on a variety of days and evenings, were facilitated by librarians, teachers and others.
• The Roses in My Carpet K-5 read-aloud, including a weaving craft project and samples of Afghan food, at participating libraries.
• Discussion with Boston University Professor and former diplomat Charles Dunbar, who served as the US Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires in Kabul during the Soviet invasion.
• Brown Bag lunch and viewing of Kandahar, followed by discussion.
• Slide presentation by Falmouth resident Anne Payson, who lived in Afghanistan as a child and returned in 2003; followed by discussion of The Kite Runner.
• Illustrated presentation by artist and world traveler Richard Lee, who taught at the International School in Kabul, before and during the Russian invasion.
• Afghan luncheon and book discussion of The Kite Runner.
• Kite making, ages 8-14.
• Slide show and talk by Westport Islander Bruce Stedman, retired United Nations civil servant, sharing his impressions of Afghanistan 40 years ago.
• “A Tourist in Afghanistan” presentation by Mary Louise Seldenfleur.
• “Afghan Family Evening at the Patten Free Library,” including a teen book discussion; sumptuous Afghan dinner, catered by Portland’s Afghan Restaurant; followed by children’s kite-making session and adult book discussion.
• “Kite Fly-in” at Wiscasset High School track field.
• “Breadwinner Book Feast,” Junior high book discussion and sampling traditional Afghan foods.
• “Spontaneous Artists Circle” with local artists at the Chocolate Church Annex. Open invitation to the community to express creative response to Afghan themes, followed by informal exhibit and reception.
• Viewing of movie, Osama, a family survival story under Taliban rule.

• Press releases sent to The Times Record and smaller papers; announcements on local television.
• Editorial endorsements reinforced public awareness.
• Flyers and bookmarks (printed in-house) distributed across the four communities.
• Rectangular souvenir pins depicted the full color cover of The Kite Runner.
• Sets of books provided to middle and high schools (see book distribution, below).
• Every means possible, from high tech (the comprehensive website is a very useful tool to convey a great deal of convenient information at modest cost) to old fashioned word-of-mouth. “The anticipation is unbelievable!” says Weiss. “Participants get really invested, they talk it up and the whole program takes on a life of its own, accelerating to a point where it’s almost hard for us to keep up with it!”

After the event, multiple copies were withdrawn from the public libraries and made available to school classes, reading groups, and other libraries launching their own community reading events around the same title.

• Months after the final program, library staff have noted that Midcoast Reads 2005 participants are still reading books about Afghanistan — going beyond the core title and exploring related nonfiction to learn more about the history and current events of Afghanistan, the politics, women’s rights and other issues.
• Some new people have come into the participating libraries, and some who were already library patrons are coming in more often. Acquaintances were forged and cultivated across town lines as participants traveled to take part in programs offered in various venues. There is a buzz over Midcoast Reads that has really gotten people excited — the participating communities eagerly anticipate the event.
• Organizers have been impressed and gratified to see individual community members take the initiative when the current year’s title and topics are introduced: several have offered to share their expertise or experience for related programs and events.
• The Patten Free Library’s outreach effort to its peninsula towns has been most rewarding. Residents of these outlying communities are delighted to be approached with a cordial, no-strings-attached invitation to participate rather than the typical funding solicitation. This program has nothing to do with finances or politics; it is a serendipitous event that builds good will. Though Patten Free has had to seek funds to support this outreach, all involved feel that the return has been well worthwhile and will continue to be beneficial in the future.

In-kind contributions, including program support and use of facilities, were made by the Bailey Evening School, Bath Area Family YMCA, Bath Book Shop, Bowdoin College, Brunswick Bookland & Café, Brunswick Junior High, Chocolate Church Arts Center, Cundy’s Harbor Library, People Plus, Gulf of Maine Book Store, The Highlands, Maine Maritime Museum, Morse High School, Mt. Ararat High School, Now You’re Cooking, Starlight Café, The Times Record, and the Totman Library.