Editorial:A big opportunity

We are proud to partner with the Iredell Friends of the Library and seven other public and private agencies that are working together to make The Big Read Iredell County a reality.
We believe this program, scheduled for February, is going to be a Big Deal.

A month of events centered around Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” will provide an historic opportunity to put the community’s focus squarely on two areas where it is desperately needed:

• Literacy: Imparting a love of reading and lifelong learning on our children is the single best way to improve test scores and reduce dropout rates.
  
• Race relations: If we truly embrace the mission of this program, the prevailing themes in this book will force us to examine why, in 2008, there are still two distinct Statesvilles.
  

Iredell Friends of the Library has joined forces with Friends of the Harmony Library, the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce, the Iredell County Public Library, Iredell-Statesville Schools, Mitchell Community College, the Mooresville Public Library and the Statesville Human Relations Commission to plan the Big Read. We are excited to play a small role.

Given the track record and dedication of the partners and the $15,000 grant and support provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, The Big Read Iredell County is destined to be a success.

There is no reason that this cannot become an annual event that makes us all better readers, better neighbors and better citizens.