Kitchi Reads/Kitichi Writes 2010
A series of 9 author visits to library locations(between 9 and 11)within the region. Each author spoke about the writing process or specific aspects of his/her writing in addition to reading from published works. A workshop on beginning to write memoirs was held in four locations.
May be collected by survey, anecdotal responses, pre-test/post-test, observations;End user change in Behavior, Attitude, Skills, Knowledge, Condition and/or Status
Survey responses at all the author visits demonstrated a very positive, even excited, response to author readings at their local library. Survey results were not only positive regarding the quality of the program, but indicated greater knowledge of the Arts and Cultural Heritage fund. A comment heard most often was "I didn't think that our area would get any benefit from the fund but this is exactly what I'd hoped for". Comments also indicated a higher level of interest in the possibility of further programming at their local library and a more positive attitude to further programming. More than 30 unique author/book-based program ideas were generated86% of the participants had never been to an author reading or had the opportunity to ask questions about the writing and publishing process and 90% of participants indicated that they now knew more than they had about Minnesota authors.Although it was not a KRLS program goal, it is worth noting that all authors had books to sell, and all sold out before the end of their tours. Few of our library locations have local bookstores, and this purchase behavior seems to be quite new and initiated by the positive experience at the reading.Attendance:MnCrime Wave 385Lorna Landvik 400Greg Breining 90Candace Simar 405Kent Nerburn 250Leif Enger 150Barbara Sommer 305Anton Treuer 360Angela Foster 120 (Maximum attendance)Jim Proebstle 224Number of respondents who had heard/met these authors before: 14%Number of respondents who had been to a library program before: 17% for 1st reading, 34% by final reading in seriesNumber of respondents who knew that the “Legacy fund” could provide this type of programming: 11% for 1st reading, 78% by final reading in seriesNumber of respondents who wanted this type of program available at the library: 91%Partner Organization(s): The Warehouse(Pine River), Friends of the Library/local library committee in all KRLS locations, Crosslake Area Library, Pequot Lakes Public LibraryThey provided venues and the Friends/local committees put up posters and provided refreshments.