KLS Awarded Funds For Community Read Kosciusko Literacy Services has been awarded a Community Read grant of $1,000 from Indiana Humanities to participate in a statewide reading of the classic novel “Frankenstein.”
More than 60 communities will be reading the book as part of One State/One Story: Frankenstein.
Kosciusko County Community Foundation and Kosciusko REMC Operation Round-Up provided additional funding.
KLS is sponsoring several community programs tied to the book this year, including book discussions. It will also receive up to 50 books and assorted items such as bookmarks and posters to promote the programs.
The $1,000 project funds can be used for a variety of purposes, including to book speakers through a special “Frankenstein” speakers bureau.
Written by teenage Mary Shelley in 1818, “Frankenstein” tells the story of a young scientist who created a grotesque living creature through a scientific experiment and was horrified by what he had made.
“‘Frankenstein’ is a powerful book that raises big questions about right and wrong, how we treat other people and the relationship between science and society,” said Keira Amstutz, president and CEO of Indiana Humanities.
“That’s what makes it such an important book to read as a community and as a state. We want to catalyze those serious conversations, but we want Hoosiers to have a little fun with the book, too.”
The books will be available to Kosciusko County residents beginning in April.
Adrienne Provenzano will portray the author of “Frankenstein” in A Visit with Mary Shelley at the Lakeview Middle School Library on April 19, and Ivy Tech Community College on April 20.
KLS offers the performance to each of the three public schools in the county. Community members may also enter one of the three contests, an essay, book cover or graphic novel contest. The rules for each contest are posted at kcread.org.
KLS is hosting book discussions at Milford Public Library and Warsaw Community Public Library.
In April, Read-Alike books, such as the BabyLit® book “An Anatomy Primer Frankenstein,” will be provided to each preschool child enrolled in Read to Grow Children's Book Club. Frank ‘N Third Grade is providing each third-grade classroom in the county an Electrical STEM Kit — Snap Circuits Jr. 100 and a copy of the book “Frank Einstein and the Electro-Finger” by Jon Scieszka
In October, Kosciusko Literacy Services will host a Frank ‘N Art area at the Oct. 5 First Friday event from 5 to 7:45 p.m. and a Zombie Walk at 7:45 p.m.
One State/One Story: Frankenstein is an initiative designed by Indiana Humanities, in partnership with the Indiana State Library and Indiana Center for the Book, to encourage Hoosiers to read the classic novel as it turns 200 in 2018.
