William Library presents: Big Read - Egypt

The Williams Library is participating in the Big Read: Egypt program sponsored by the South Dakota Humanities Council (SDHC). The book selected for the program is The Thief and the Dogs by Naguib Mahfouz. Mahfouz won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1988.

• SDHC has provided the library with 30 copies* of the book for the NSU community to check out (three week periods). Stop by the library and get a copy. Let your students know about the program.
• On March 24, the library will host a program.

The Program:

• When: March 24
• Time: 7pm
• Where: Williams Library
• About: Professor Pen Pearson will lead the book and literature discussion. Assistant Professor Raouf Zaidan, an Egyptian, will speak on the cultural/political background of the book and author. This insight will provide not only a better understand of the book, but also of modern Egypt. He will also read excerpts in Arabic.

*The books will be returned to SDHC.
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The South Dakota Center for the Book, a program of the South Dakota Humanities Council (SDHC), has coordinated THE BIG READ for three years. For the 2008 - 2009 program cycle, SDHC is hosting The Big Read Egypt. This is a new initiative of The Big Read program designed to deepen and broaden cultural understanding through literature.

THE BIG READ is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and bring the transformative power of literature into the lives of its citizens. The Big Read brings together partners across the country to encourage citizens to read for pleasure and enlightenment.