Past NEA Big Read 2021 Events


Scroll down for the full Calendar of Past Events!

Emily St. John Mandel's "Station Eleven" book cover. Large tents under a starry sky.The Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association launched its 7th National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read in the Spring of 2021, in partnership with Tilton Library and more than 40 other organizations and businesses in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties. PVMA is one of 84 communities nationwide awarded an NEA Big Read grant for 2020-21. With a full calendar of events from late March through November, our community has been exploring Emily St. John Mandel’s novel, Station Eleven. We are extremely grateful to all our partners for their creative participation!

Learn more about the novel and why PVMA chose this title here. View a complete list of partners here.

Programming is now complete, but some online programs may still be available as recordings.

National Endowment for the Arts and Arts Midwest Big Read logo

NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

 

NOVEMBER 2021 EVENTS

November 2 – 30, 2022
What: The Pioneer Valley History Network wants to see your “obsolete items” in your personal or museum collection, inspired by Station Eleven‘s Museum of Civilization
Where: Virtual event during November on the Pioneer Valley History Network’s Facebook page

BIG READ WEEKEND at the Great Falls Discovery Center
November 13  Saturday 1-3 pm
What: Exploded View’s “Repair & Maintenance” exhibit/performance reception, with a reading from Station Eleven and free copies of the book (while supplies lasts)
Where: Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA

November 14  Sunday 3-4 pm
What: Musica Franklin presents a community concert. The NEA Big Read: Pocumtuck Valley will post a StoryWalk® of Mole Music on the fence outside the Great Hall and distribute copies to the young Musica Franklin musicians (and the audience while supplies last). Mole Music is our Big Read for Young Readers companion book, telling the story of a mole who longs to make music–and how learning to play the violin transforms his and others’ lives
Where: Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA

JUNE 2021 EVENTS

June 15  Tuesday, 7 pm
What: New England Public Media Book Club debuts with Station Eleven
Where: Virtual event on Zoom.

MAY 2021 EVENTS

Libraries in the Woods logo. Black and white line-drawing of a person sitting under a tree with a book. Winding path to a library in the background. May 2  Sunday, 2 pm
What: Zine and Comic Workshop with Anne Thalheimer
Where: Zoom, Leverett Library (with Ashfield, Greenfield, and Wendell libraries)
? Find information and register here.

 

All Hamptons Read logo, compass. Includes the words, "North, East, South, West, Plus Burgy"May 3  Monday, 4-5 pm
What: Book Discussion
Where: Online, Forbes Library
? Find information and register here.

 

Libraries in the Woods logo. Black and white line-drawing of a person sitting under a tree with a book. Winding path to a library in the background. May 3  Monday, 6:30-7:30 pm
What: Book Discussion
Where: Zoom, Cushman Library in Bernardston
? Find information and register here.

 

Libraries in the Woods logo. Black and white line-drawing of a person sitting under a tree with a book. Winding path to a library in the background. May 5  Wednesday, 2 pm
What: Book Discussion
Where: Zoom, Arms Library in Shelburne Falls, Buckland Public Library, Griswold Memorial in Colrain, Heath Public Library, and Shelburne Public Library
? Find information and register here.

 

Libraries in the Woods logo. Black and white line-drawing of a person sitting under a tree with a book. Winding path to a library in the background. May 5  Wednesday, 7:30 pm
What: Book Discussion (virtual anticipated)
Where: Zoom, M.N. Spear Memorial Library in Shutesbury, Pelham Library, Leverett Library
? For information and to register, email library.director@shutesbury.org.

 

All Hamptons Read logo, compass. Includes the words, "North, East, South, West, Plus Burgy"

May 6  Thursday, 6:30-7:30 pm
What: Book Discussion
Where: Online, Emily Williston Memorial Library in Easthampton
? Find information and register here.

 

Libraries in the Woods logo. Black and white line-drawing of a person sitting under a tree with a book. Winding path to a library in the background. May 6  Thursday, 7 pm
What: Conversation with Local Newspaper Editor Mike Jackson (Montague Reporter) about independent local journalism
Where: Zoom, Dickinson Memorial Library in Northfield
? Find information here and register by emailing dmemlib@gmail.com.

 

Libraries in the Woods logo. Black and white line-drawing of a person sitting under a tree with a book. Winding path to a library in the background. May 11  Tuesday, 6:30–7:30 pm
What: Coping with Trauma and Loss: How Therapy Can Help
Presentation and discussion with Susannah Sheffer, LMHC.
Where: Zoom, Sunderland Public Library
? Find information and register here.

 

All Hamptons Read logoMay 12  Wednesday, 7–8pm
What:  What is the role of museums in community history and legacy?
Where: Zoom, Forbes Library in Northampton
? Find information and register here.

 

Libraries in the Woods logo. Black and white line-drawing of a person sitting under a tree with a book. Winding path to a library in the background. May 15  Saturday, 10 pm–12 noon
What: Fire by Friction, presented by Wolf Tree
Where: Wendell Free Library (in person, 24 person limit)
? Find information and register here.

 

Libraries in the Woods logo. Black and white line-drawing of a person sitting under a tree with a book. Winding path to a library in the background. May 18  Tuesday, 6:30 pm
What: Book Discussion
Where: Zoom, Belding Memorial Library in Ashfield, Field Memorial Library in Conway, and S. White Dickinson Memorial Library in Whately
? Find link here. For information, contact sfernandez@cwmars.org.

 

Libraries in the Woods logo. Black and white line-drawing of a person sitting under a tree with a book. Winding path to a library in the background. May 19  Wednesday, 7:00pm
What: Two Plays, Two Actors – with Nick deRuiter and Jerri Higgins. Plays to be announced.
Where: Zoom, Cushman Library in Bernardston
? Find information and register here.

 

Libraries in the Woods logo. Black and white line-drawing of a person sitting under a tree with a book. Winding path to a library in the background. May 20  Thursday, 7 pm
What: Ask an Airline Attendant
Where: Zoom, Dickinson Memorial Library in Northfield
? Find information here and register by emailing dmemlib@gmail.com.

 

Libraries in the Woods logo. Black and white line-drawing of a person sitting under a tree with a book. Winding path to a library in the background. May 22  Saturday, 10 am
What: Walk and Talk Book Discussion
Where: Wendell Free Library
? Find information here.

 

May 23  Sunday, 2 pm
What: Foundations of Survival Skills
Join us for a conversation that will build your resiliency in survival situations. We’ll discuss the basics of how to find and maintain food, water, shelter, and fire amidst challenging situations, and explore what skills and knowledge are necessary for turning survival into sur-thrive-al. Our time together will include some fun activities and tangible to-do’s for all ages! Presented by WolfTree Programs of Montague
Where: Erving Public Library
? This is an outdoors, in-person program and places are limited. Registration required by emailing: library@erving-ma.gov.
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May 24  Monday, 6 pm
What: Virtual Walking Tour of Erving Center
Join local historians Philip Johnson and Sara Campbell as we take a virtual walking tour of Erving Center. They will point out some of the historical highlights of our Town that we may not have thought about lately. Let’s slow down and talk about the physical remnants of our history. We look forward to hearing from you and what these landmarks mean to you as we virtually get together via Zoom. After the presentation, you may want to pick up the fact sheet at the library and take a walk around town by yourself or with your family.
Where: Zoom, Erving Public Library
?  Registration required by emailing: library@erving-ma.gov
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Libraries in the Woods logo. Black and white line-drawing of a person sitting under a tree with a book. Winding path to a library in the background.

May 24  Monday, 6:30 pm
What: Station Eleven: The Collapse of Systems and the Reemergence of Neighborliness — a book discussion featuring David B. Schwartz, Ph.D.
Where:  Zoom, Sunderland Public Library
? Find information and register here.

 

Libraries in the Woods logo. Black and white line-drawing of a person sitting under a tree with a book. Winding path to a library in the background. May 25  Tuesday, 6 pm
What: Book Discussion
Where: Zoom, Erving Public Library and Dickinson Memorial Library in Northfield
? Register by emailing library@erving-ma.gov.

 

Libraries in the Woods logo. Black and white line-drawing of a person sitting under a tree with a book. Winding path to a library in the background. May 25  Tuesday, 6:30 pm
What: “Survival is Insufficient,” a discussion of this phrase’s meaning in Station Eleven and the Star Trek Voyager episode from which it was drawn.
Where: Zoom, Field Memorial Library in Conway,  Belding Memorial Library in Ashfield, Arms Library in Shelburne Falls
? Find information and register here.

 

Libraries in the Woods logo. Black and white line-drawing of a person sitting under a tree with a book. Winding path to a library in the background. May 29  Contest ends
What: Build a “bug-out bag” contest. Prizes for “Most Prepared,” and “Most Creative”
Where: Virtual, Griswold Memorial Library in Colrain
? Find information and register here.

APRIL 2021 EVENTS

All Hamptons Read logo, compass. Includes the words, "North, East, South, West, Plus Burgy"April 7  Wednesday, 7-8:30 pm
What: Trauma Informed Care and the Pandemic, Rosie McMahan and TIC
Where: Online, Edwards Public Library in Southampton
? Find information and register here.

 

Jones Library logo. Owl with red scarf reading a book, standing on books with the words "Learn," "Discover," and "Connect" on the spine.April 8  Thursday, 7 pm
What: Station Eleven and Surviving Pandemics, Anna Tayler
Associate Professor from the UMass Dept. of History, on the survival of culture as portrayed in pandemic literature.
Where: Zoom, Jones Library in Amherst
? Find information and register here.

 

Libraries in the Woods logo. Black and white line-drawing of a person sitting under a tree with a book. Winding path to a library in the background. April 10  Saturday, 11 am
What: Pondering the Pandemic: a Guided Doodling Workshop with Cara Bean
Where: Zoom, Wendell Free Library
? Find information and register here.

 

Libraries in the Woods logo. Black and white line-drawing of a person sitting under a tree with a book. Winding path to a library in the background. April 12  Monday, 6 pm
What: Bug-out Bags and Books! Would you be ready to bug-out if you had to? A bug-out bag contains the essentials you’d need, if you had to get out fast. Chelsea Jordan-Makely will talk about things to include in your bug-out bag and discuss four books in which the characters have to make quick getaways and survive on their wits, including Station Eleven. Prizes for “Youth,” “Most Prepared,” and “Most Creative.” Contest closes May 29th.
Where: Zoom, Griswold Memorial Library in Colrain
? Find information here. Email griswold@colrain-ma.gov to register.

 

Jones Library logo. Owl with red scarf reading a book, standing on books with the words "Learn," "Discover," and "Connect" on the spine.April 13  Tuesday, 7 pm (or see April 14, Tuesday)
What: Book discussion, led by Jones Library librarian, Linda Wentworth.
Where: Zoom, Jones Library in Amherst
? Find information and register here.

 

Libraries in the Woods logo. Black and white line-drawing of a person sitting under a tree with a book. Winding path to a library in the background. April 13  Tuesday, April 13, 7 pm
What: Coping with Stress, Anxiety, and Depression During Difficult Times, a panel discussion w/ Sara Schieffelin, LICSW, and other mental health care professionals
Where: Zoom, Cushman Library in Bernardston
? Find information and register here.

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Libraries in the Woods logo. Black and white line-drawing of a person sitting under a tree with a book. Winding path to a library in the background. April 14  Wednesday, 10 am
What: Book Discussion (contact Library to register)
Where: Location TBD, Warwick Free Public Library
? Find information and register here.

 

Jones Library logo. Owl with red scarf reading a book, standing on books with the words "Learn," "Discover," and "Connect" on the spine.April 14  Wednesday, 7 pm (or see April 13, Wednesday)
What: Book discussion, led by Jones Library librarian, Linda Wentworth.
Where: Zoom, Jones Library in Amherst
? Find information and register here.

 

Libraries in the Woods logo. Black and white line-drawing of a person sitting under a tree with a book. Winding path to a library in the background. April 15  Thursday, 6:30pm
What: Book Discussion (virtual anticipated)
Where: Zoom, Tilton Library in South Deerfield
? Find information and register here.

 

All Hamptons Read logo, compass. Includes the words, "North, East, South, West, Plus Burgy"April 15  Thursday, 7-8:30 pm
What: Book Discussion
Where: Online, Meekins Library in Williamsburg
? Find information and register here.

 

All Hamptons Read logo, compass. Includes the words, "North, East, South, West, Plus Burgy"April 20  Tuesday, 7 pm
What: Book Discussion
Where: Online, Westhampton Library
? Find information and register here.

 

Libraries in the Woods logo. Black and white line-drawing of a person sitting under a tree with a book. Winding path to a library in the background. April 22  Thursday, 6:30 pm
What:  Theater Education Panel with John Bechtold, Cindy Naughton, Cynthia Strycharz and more
Where:  Zoom, Pelham Free Public Library
? Find information and register here.

 

Jones Library logo. Owl with red scarf reading a book, standing on books with the words "Learn," "Discover," and "Connect" on the spine.April 22  Thursday, 7 pm
What: Travels with Station Eleven’s Shakespeare, Sally Sutherland, lecturer emeritus at Mt. Holyoke College
Where: Zoom, Jones Library in Amherst
? Find information and register here.

 

Libraries in the Woods logo. Black and white line-drawing of a person sitting under a tree with a book. Winding path to a library in the background. April 26  Thursday, 7 pm
What: Book Discussion (virtual anticipated)
Where: Zoom, New Salem Public Library
? Find information and register here.

 

All Hamptons Read logo, compass. Includes the words, "North, East, South, West, Plus Burgy"April 27  Tuesday, 1 pm
What: Book Discussion
Where: Online, Edwards Public Library in Southampton
? Find information and register here.

APRIL 27 KEYNOTE

Media sponsor logo: New England Public MediaApril 27  Tuesday, 7 pm
What: A Conversation with Emily St. John Mandel
Where:  Zoom, hosted by New England Public Media, a Watch & Learn Event
? A RECORDING IS AVAILABLE UNTIL MAY 22nd HERE.

Event sponsor logos: PVMA (Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association), Libraries in the Woods, Springfield Public Forum, All Hamptons Read, and The Care CenterIn partnership with Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Libraries in the Woods, The Care Center, Springfield Public Forum, and All Hamptons Read

 

Libraries in the Woods logo. Black and white line-drawing of a person sitting under a tree with a book. Winding path to a library in the background. April 29  Thursday, 8 pm
What: The Suitcase Junket: Found Music—A performance  in the spirit of The Traveling Symphony of Station Eleven
Where: Zoom, Tilton Library in South Deerfield
? Find information and register here.

MARCH 2021 EVENTS

UMass Amherst logoMarch 22  Monday, 5 pm
What: Viral Exchanges: Hotspots, Spillovers, and the Reordering of Life (lecture, Gregg Mitman)
2020-2021 Feinberg Family Distinguished Lecture Series – Planet on a Precipice: Histories and Futures of the Environmental Emergency
Where: Online, UMass Amherst History Department
? Find information and register here.

 

UMass Amherst logoMarch 25  Thursday, 6 pm
What: The Land Beneath Our Feet (film), Panel Discussion with the Director
2020-2021 Feinberg Family Distinguished Lecture Series – Planet on a Precipice: Histories and Futures of the Environmental Emergency
Where: Online, UMass Amherst History Department
? Find information and register here.

Logo: National Endowment for the Arts Big Read, Managed by Arts Midwest. Includes website: arts.gov/neabigread.

Three logos, Big Read sponsors. PVMA (A Project of the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association), Tilton Library, and New England Public MediaNEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.