FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Heather O'Connell, Community Relations Coordinator
                                  (239) 461-2914, hoconnell@leegov.com

Lee County Library System Supports "Read Together, Florida"

Lee County Library System presents a series of events in April to support the "Read Together, Florida" project, a part of the Governor's Family Literacy Initiative aimed at creating a statewide community of millions of Floridians reading the same book at the same time.

The goal of "Read Together, Florida" is to encourage reading as a key value by generating enthusiasm about reading and sharing the same book with individuals across the state. The project will create a statewide book club that sparks discussion and builds a love of reading, but requires no special membership - other than reading a book.

The first book selection in this project is Zora Neale Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God." The book was chosen because of its inspiring story and also because it is set in Florida and explores the culture of African-Americans living here during the 1930s.

Lee County residents are encouraged to read the selected book during the month of April along with other Floridians, and take part in scheduled book discussions at local libraries or on-line at www.VolunteerFloridaFoundation.org.

Lee County Library System will kick off the month-long project with a presentation from local performer Tracey Battle at the Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library designed to introduce Lee County readers to author Hurston and the featured book. The series concludes with a book discussion at the Dunbar Jupiter Hammon Public Library in Fort Myers. A complete list of April "Read Together, Florida" programs follows:

1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 1 - Series kick-off. Local performer Tracey Battle portrays author Zora Neale Hurston and engages in discussion with the audience about Hurston's life, her writings, and the issues of African-Americans living in Florida in the 1930s. Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library, 921 SW 39th Terrace, Cape Coral, Florida. Please pre-register by calling (239) 542-3953.

7 p.m. Monday, April 5 - "Zora Is My Name" video presentation, a 1990 PBS American Playhouse production. South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks Parkway, Estero, Florida. Please pre-register by calling (239) 390-3200.

7 p.m. Monday, April 12 - Book discussion of Zora Neale Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God." Read the book, then come partake in a facilitated book discussion at Fort Myers-Lee County Public Library, 2050 Central Avenue, Fort Myers, Florida. Please pre-register by calling (239) 479-4635.

2 p.m. Wednesday, April 14 - Book discussion of Zora Neale Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God." Read the book, then come partake in a facilitated book discussion at Bonita Springs Public Library, 26876 Pine Avenue, Bonita Springs, Florida. Please pre-register by calling (239) 992-0101.

1 p.m. Monday, April 19 - Book discussion of Zora Neale Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God." Read the book, then come partake in a facilitated book discussion at East County Regional Library, 881 Gunnery Road, Lehigh Acres, Florida. Please pre-register by calling (239) 461-7300.

10 a.m. Saturday, April 24 - Series finale. Local performer Tracey Battle portrays author Zora Neale Hurston and engages in discussion of her book, "Their Eyes Were Watching God." Read the book, then come partake in this facilitated book discussion at Dunbar Jupiter Hammon Public Library, 3095 Blount Street, Fort Myers, Florida. Please pre-register by calling (239) 334-3602.

All programs are free and open to the public. A sign language interpreter is available with 48-hour notice. Call the Deaf Service Center at 461-0334 (voice) or 461-0438 (TTY). Assistive listening devices are available upon request.

For more information on any library program, call your library, or Telephone Reference at (239) 479-INFO or (239) 479-4636.