Center for the Book announces financial support for book clubs

Press release

MISSOULA — The Montana Center for the Book supports public book clubs in rural areas that engage in deeper, thought-provoking discussions about literature.

The new Big Sky Reads program will provide $500 stipends to book clubs for trained discussion leaders, author visits, book shipping, marketing and other costs that enhance the humanities value of a program. The stipends cannot be used to cover costs for refreshments, venues, or organization staff.

Book clubs must be open to the public and meet in a public space or school.

All book clubs supported by Montana Center for the Book, a program of Humanities Montana, contribute reading lists, discussion questions, event times and more to our Facebook group.

This is a great resource to find new books, new participants, discussion questions, and facilitators.

If a library, school, or other organization has an established book club people think qualifies, they can apply for this award any time. The center funds up to ten clubs each year. There is no deadline and the application, available online at http://www.humanitiesmontana.org/centerforthebook/bigskyreads.php/, is simple.

Humanities Montana is the state’s independent, nonprofit state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Since 1972, Humanities Montana has provided services and grants to hundreds of Montana organizations in support of public programs in history, literature, civil conversations, and public issues.

Among its many programs are its grants, Montana Conversations, Speakers in the Schools, Hometown Humanities, Community Conversations, Letters About Literature and the Governor’s Humanities Awards.