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"[The
experience of reading] goes into my heart. I read [the books] all the time...and
every time they touch me more. They change my life around..." "You couldn't get me to read a book before. Now I love to pick up a book. I like to read now. I used to hate it and now I pick up a book every time I turn around." 
"I am more at ease with myself and the people around me because I have opened my mind to another experience."  "I look at a book from a different point of view. To talk about the books in the groups is even better. You get to see how other people interpret the same book. ...New Books, New Readers has changed the way I look at books." 
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What is NEW BOOKS, NEW READERS?
Participants learn to love reading when they're engaged in discussion centered on humanities themes — themes that relate to their lives. They are given a copy of every book in the series to keep and are encouraged to share their enjoyment with family and friends. NEW BOOKS, NEW READERS is meant for adults of every age, from the lowest literacy levels to those involved in GED preparation. The program can be sponsored by any organization interested in encouraging people to learn that books can play an important role in every life, helping us to understand ourselves in relation to our world and each other. The Council works with local groups such as Adult Basic Education, Literacy Volunteers, Even Start, Head Start, parenting programs, correctional education programs, and public libraries, who cooperate to present NEW BOOKS, NEW READERS in their communities.
How does New Books, New Readers work?A typical NEW BOOKS, NEW READERS series uses nine books from the best of children's literature-from first grade to sixth grade levels-related through a common theme. Each series has four sessions, usually monthly. All are informal. The first welcomes participants to the site and assures that everyone understands what will happen during the program. In each succeeding session, three books, from three different reading levels, together form the basis for discussion, so that all may participate. The sessions are facilitated by humanities scholars, who draw on their own teaching experience to help shape the flow and direction of the discussion. The scholars receive training to help them understand the challenges of working with adults whose reading levels may be very low and who have never regarded books as an important part of their lives. 
New Books, New Readers:
Sponsoring organizations:
To learn more or to inquire about sponsoring NEW BOOKS, NEW READERS in your community, please contact: Julia
R. Walkling, Program Director
NBNR is supported by a grant from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation |
| The Maine Humanities Council Home of the Harriet P. Henry Center for the Book For additional information about the Council and its programs, please write, call or e-mail us: 674 Brighton Avenue, Portland, ME 04102 Toll Free Number: 1-866-MEreader or 1-866-637-3233 Phone: (207) 773-5051 Fax: (207) 773-2416 e-mail: info@mainehumanities.org |
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© Maine Humanities Council, 2002—2012 Please contact Donna Jones at West End Webs for questions or problems with the web site. |
NEW
BOOKS, NEW READERS is a humanities-based book discussion program
for adults who are new readers or who are not in the habit of
reading. It opens the world of books and ideas through literature
that is accessible and thought-provoking, encouraging reading
as an enjoyable lifelong personal and family activity.