Book burning for literacy?

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In his novel &#8220Fahrenheit 451,” author Ray Bradbury claims that &#8220451 degrees is the temperature at which book-paper catches fire and burns.” Those at the DeKalb Public Library are about to put his theory to the test. To kick off October's Big Read initiative - being held to increase literacy and reading - the library will host a book bonfire Sept. 29 in Hopkins Park. The motivation behind the event is this year's Big Read book, &#8220Fahrenheit 451,” a novel about a future in which books are illegal in the United States. Such efforts to increase literacy may seem drastic, but no need for alarm - the books to be ignited are &#8220publisher's discards,” which include misprints and books with misaligned pages that would ordinarily be recycled, said Kathy Keyes, the DeKalb Public Library's director of public relations. &#8220We want to recreate a scene from ‘Fahrenheit 451' where books are burned,” Keyes said. &#8220It's attention-grabbing and that's the point. We want to start things off with a bang. But we don't want people to think librarians are torching books at Hopkins Park.” DeKalb is one of 200 communities nationwide participating in the Big Read this year, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts &#8220designed to restore reading to the center of American culture,” according to the organization's Web site. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. The DeKalb Public Library is teaming up with Altrusa International, the DeKalb County Community Foundation, Kishwaukee College Family Literacy Program and the DeKalb School District to hold the program locally. The NEA started the initiative in 2002 after a study revealed reading had decreased across all ages in the United States. &#8220People just aren't reading as much, so they decided to do this Big Read program to encourage people to read more for leisure,” Keyes said. &#8220Fahrenheit 451” presents a future in which critical thought is suppressed. The central character, Guy Montag, is a &#8220fireman.” In the futuristic setting of the book, that means he's a book burner. &#8220We will discuss what it means to live in a country where books aren't burned and talk about the democratic freedoms that we have,” Keyes said. Although &#8220Fahrenheit 451” is generally read at the young-adult level, events will incorporate all ages, Keyes said. For example, posters with thermometers on them that indicate how many books students are reading will be placed in schools throughout the DeKalb School District, said Carla Raynor, coordinator for the Family Literacy Program at Kishwaukee College in Malta. &#8220Each school will have the goal of having students read (a total of) 451 books,” Raynor said. &#8220It can be any book. We want literacy and reading the books to be a natural thing for families to be doing together. Maybe mom and dad will be reading ‘Fahrenheit 451' and then the kids can read their books and feel that they can participate.” Children will also be invited to draw a poster of their favorite book and submit it to their school. Family Literacy Program coordinators will pick up submissions from the schools and display them around DeKalb, Raynor said. &#8220We wanted the children, even the ones that are too young to read the book, to be able to participate,” she said. October was chosen for the initiative month because Oct. 1 is the start of Banned Books Week, Keyes said, in which books that have historically been banned throughout the country are discussed and honored. Copies of &#8220Fahrenheit 451” will be made available through the library in English-language, Spanish-language and large-print copies during the month. &#8220Rediscovering literature opens up new doors, and this is an excellent opportunity to help people do that,” Raynor said. Carrie Frillman can be reached at cfrillman@daily-chronicle.com.