An Evening with Rick Bragg
Saturday, November 14, 7 p.m.,
Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 East Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN
Free

A 60-second video Invitation. Watch here!

Pulitzer winner, journalist, and best-selling author Rick Bragg has been selected as the library's 2009 Power of Words author. Bragg's family memoirs and newspaper stories offer an intimate view of hard times, poverty, hope, and perseverance. "Bragg's writing combines traditional southern Appalachian storytelling with a reporter's unflinching eye on the heart of the story." Bragg is hailed as a compelling speaker whose storyteller’s style and humor draw audiences into the lives and experiences of the real people he writes about.

The author 's talk and book signing at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater are FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. General Seating is free.

Premium seating is available with the purchase of a reception ticket.

I.U. Bloomington Continuting Studies class includes premium seating and a reception ticket.

Associated Events: Meet the Author Reception Details here Poverty and the Power of Words: Economic and Literary Dimensions. An evening class offered by I.U. Bloomington Continuing Studies. Details here

An Evening with Rick Bragg begins at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, Saturday, November 14 at 7 p.m. and is followed by a Meet-the-Author reception with live music by the Lost Shoe String Band, champagne, and hors d'oeuvres in the Monroe County Public Library atrium. For those who wish to attend the reception, tickets must be purchased in advance. Read more about purchasing reception tickets.

Who is Rick Bragg?
A native of Alabama, Bragg has been hailed as a writer whose vision, generous humor, and richly nuanced voice never fail to record the grace and dignity of people who live their lives in the margin.

His best selling and critically acclaimed trio of memoirs about his Calhoun County family has become an anthem for working class Americans. The first book, All Over but the Shoutin' is a top selection by community reading programs and book clubs.

As a journalist, he is drawn to write about people caught in the midst of poverty and tragedy. Bragg has covered stories from Central Asia to the Caribbean to economic and social upheaval in the U.S. He has reported from Peshawar, Pakistan and the slums of Port-au-Prince in Haiti; covered the Oklahoma City bombing, the Susan Smith trials, and 9/11.

His career has taken him from The Jacksonville News to The New York Times and beyond. Most recently, he received Alabama's 2009 Harper Lee Award named for the author whose classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, has moved and challenged millions of readers.

Read more about Rick Bragg's life and books.
Read or purchase books by Rick Bragg.

"Bragg's writing combines traditional southern Appalachian storytelling with a reporter's unflinching eye on the heart of the story." -- Sara Laughlin, Director, Monroe County Public library.

The memoir All Over But the Shoutin', he says, was a way to honor his mother. "She really did go eighteen years without a new dress so that her children could have a little more." It was "to preserve that courage and that sacrifice and that love...and to write a kind of love story for his people and his region" that Bragg wrote this memoir.

Don Noble writes about Rick Bragg in the Spring 2009 issue of First Draft, The Journal of Alabama Writers' Forum. It is a delightful and enjoyable introduction to the author.
Read the article here.

Put November 14 on your calendar and don't miss the opportunity to meet Rick Bragg.

Bragg is hailed as a compelling speaker whose storyteller's style and humor draw audiences into the lives and experiences of the real people he writes about. What other Friends groups have said about Rick Bragg as a speaker:

"Rick took in his surroundings and digested them. ...he moved past the first segment of our event which was quite serious and lightened things up quite a bit. He had the entire full house of about 750 people in stitches. What a way to end our session, with smiles on our faces all while in appreciation of the spirit of survival as it relates to the 'Potential and Power of the Human Spirit.'"

Another wrote: "He was so generous to everyone, engaging, and appropriate. He not only knows how to read a crowd, he can then write about them in their very presence!"

Pick up a crisp new copy of Bragg's book for the book signing November 14.

New copies of All Over But the Shoutin', Ava's Man, Prince of Frogtown, and Somebody Told Me: The Newspaper Stories of Rick Bragg are available for purchase at the Friends of the Library Bookstore on the first floor of Monroe County Public Library. View bookstore hours here.

Books will also be available for purchase at the author's talk and book signing, Saturday, November 14, in the Buskirk-Chumley Theater lobby.

To make sure free copies are available to the community, The Friends of the Library purchased extra copies of the author's books for the library. Borrow or reserve a book from Monroe County Public Library. Check the library's catalog here.

Rick Bragg's best selling and critically acclaimed trio of memoirs about his Calhoun County family has become an anthem for working class Americans. The first book, All Over but the Shoutin' is a top selection by community reading programs and book clubs.

*Proceeds from reception ticket and book sales support the Power of Words community author series.

Live music, champagne, and hors d'oeuvres. After-hours in the Monroe County Library Atrium. Purchase tickets in advance.
Enjoy an afterhours transformation of the Monroe County Library Atrium. Don't miss a chance to talk with Rick Bragg, meet new friends, and tap your toes to the lively old time blues and jug band music of the Lost Shoe String Band.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, the reception includes live music, champagne, and hors d'oeuvres. Please plan to join us for this special evening with Rick Bragg.

*Proceeds from reception ticket and book sales support the Power of Words community author series.

Purchase Reception Tickets. $50 Reception tickets must be purchased in advance. Ticket includes premium seating for Rick Bragg's talk at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. Bring your ticket! Ticket provides access to premium seating and admittance to the reception. Buy In person: Visit the Friends of the Library Bookstore. Payment: cash, or check. View Bookstore hours here. Buy On line: Purchase tickets online with a credit card. Use the following link to PayPal's secure payment site.

Questions: Call the Friends office, 349-3050, ext 1080, or inquire in the Friends Bookstore, 1st Floor, Monroe County Public Library, 303 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana.

 

 

The Power of Words: Changing Our World - One Author at a Time is a partnership between the Friends of the Library and Monroe County Public Library. It is presented as a biennial series featuring guest authors whose literary talent, imagery, and eloquence provide an insight into local issues and concerns - authors whose writing and speaking styles capture the hearts and minds of our community.

The series provides an opportunity for community members to meet a well-known author and become familiar with the author's books, writing methods, and life.
The Power of Words creates events that gather and showcase a large and visible community of readers. The inaugural event in 2007 featured award-winning author Luis Urrea whose powerful poetry, fiction, and non-fiction explore Hispanic heritage and immigration. Urrea drew a crowd of 350 to his presentation at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. More than 100 attended the after-hours reception for Urrea at the Monroe County Public Library Atrium.

The response to the program was enthusiastic. People were excited and ready for the series to return.

Community collaboration and involvement are essential components of the series. This year several community programs and media events are planned to precede Mr. Bragg’s appearance.

Early fall.	Watch the video. CATS Community Access Television has produced a special program, Rick Bragg and the Power of Words, which will air early fall. Check the CATS TV Channel 3 schedule for dates and times. Or, view the show on the Friends web page.
Community Book Discussions	The library and many local book clubs have selected one of Braggs' books for discussion.
Books to borrow	To make sure free copies are available to the community, The Friends of the Library purchased extra copies of the author's books for the library. Check the library's catalog here.
Nov. 5, 12, 14.	Using Bragg's memoirs, I.U Bloomington Continuing Studies created a lifelong learning class that focuses on the economic and literary dimensions of poverty. View class information and register here.

 

 

Fall Class: Rick Bragg, Poverty and the Power of Words: Economic and Literary Dimensions
November 5, 12, and 14. Thursdays Nov 5 and 12, Monroe County Public Library, 7-8:30 p.m.; Saturday, November 14, Buskirk-Chumley Theater 7 p.m., special reception follows.

Take full advantage of ALL the 2009 Power of Words events. An absolutely great bargain! For $15 more than the regular price of a Continuing Studies course, this class includes a $50 Rick Bragg reception ticket and premium seating at the Rick Bragg author event.

Make it a social event. Combine the class with a day or evening in downtown Bloomington: shop, dine, stop for a late night appetizer, or stay overnight and enjoy a leisurely brunch!

Click here to Register for the class.

Register now.
For class details and to register, visit www.continue.indiana.edu, pick up an I.U. Bloomington Continuing Studies Lifelong Learning Fall 2009 Course Schedule, or call 855-9335.

 

 

• An exciting, empowering opportunity to explore the issues that affect libraries, lives, and communities.
• Libraries change lives - look for tools or inspiration for changing lives in your community.

Indiana Librarians can receive 5 Library Education Units (LEUs) for attending I.U. Bloomington Continuing Studies Lifelong Learning course, Poverty, and the Power of Words, 7 p.m., Thursdays November 5 and 12, and Saturday November 14.

A great bargain! Tuition includes Mr. Bragg's talk and book signing at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater as well as admission to the after-hours music, champagne, and hors d'oeuvres meet-the-author reception at Monroe County Public Library.

The class meets at Monroe County Public Library Thursday evenings, November 5 and 12, and the Buskirk-Chumley Theater Saturday evening November 14. Read full class description here.

Shop, learn, eat. Make the experience a fall treat. Combine the class with a day or evening in downtown Bloomington: shop, dine, stop for a late night appetizer, or stay overnight and enjoy a leisurely brunch!

To receive LEU credit:
1. Register for the class through I.U.Continuing Studies Online or call 812-855-9335.

2. Register for LEU credit: Contact Dana Burton, Monroe County Public Library before the first class. Call 812-349-3050, ext. 2048 to leave a message, or email dburton (at) mcpl (dot) info. RE: BRAGG LEU. Include name, library, email, and phone.

3. Read: All Over but the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg and A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby Payne. Reading the books in advance will enhance your enjoyment and involvement in the classes.

Copies of both books will be available for purchase at the first class. Use this opportunity to begin your reading or pick up a crisp new copy of Bragg's book for the book signing November 14.

*Proceeds from reception ticket and book sales support the Power of Words community author series.