Recommended Program Types
Note: The application deadline was April 26, 2010. All applicants were notified of their award status via email by May 31.
Librarians interested in applying for a grant to support Picturing America related programs were encouraged to consider the following formats. With questions about application planning or using programming formats not listed below, please contact picturingamerica@ala.org.
Author, Poet, Storyteller or Artist programs can attract large audiences of adults, children or families and offer participants a special connection to literature and artwork.
Exhibits that include Picturing America images as well as other works of American art from local artists, photographers and artisans. Possible partners include local arts councils, historical societies, or museums.
Launch events or community wide celebrations that focus on the Picturing America collection and include related adult and children’s programs, book displays, art exhibits, food, music, crafts and other activities.
Lectures presented by American art and history scholars from local universities, colleges and schools; independent scholars, writers and others knowledgeable about the artistic, cultural and historical elements of the Picturing America collection. Public libraries that are participating in Picturing America have rights to download the images from the image download gallery and use them in free, public presentations.
One Book, One Community programs can be used to inspire discussion and stimulate public interest in the Picturing America collection. Libraries may consider selecting one title for adult readers, and another for younger audiences. For more on One Book, One Community programs, visit the Public Programs Office's Programming Librarian
website.
Panel discussions featuring writers, historians, scholars or others with specialized knowledge about an element(s) of the Picturing America collection. Mixing three or four scholars and writers in a talk led by a knowledgeable moderator can make for an interesting program.
Poetry programs that feature discussions, readings, or writing workshops. The Academy of American Poets’ (AAP) website offers content that may be useful during program development, including a bibliography of poems that relate to the Picturing America collection, as well as information about ekphrastic poetry, which focuses on or is inspired by a work of art.
Reading and discussion series lead by a scholar, teacher, or other facilitator can offer a means for libraries to connect audiences with the Picturing America collection through literature. ALA offers several reading lists for adults that focus on themes found in the Picturing America collection. Each list has been developed by a national project scholar. Libraries are also encouraged to work with local scholars and community organizations to develop their own reading and discussion programs.
Viewing and discussion series that present documentary or independent films followed by a discussion with a local film critic or historian can bring audiences together to learn more about the American art and history found in the Picturing America collection. ALA offers several lists of theme-related films that compliment the collection, compiled by the ALA Video Round Table.