While You Were Sleeping

Good morning Pittsburgh!  While you were sleeping, a dedicated group of hardcore library supporters stayed up all night reading to the people…and they’re still reading.  That’s right.  As we slowly inch toward sunrise, and with less than six hours to go, Pittsburghers from all walks of life are reading, staffing volunteer tables, and learning about the Our Library, Our Future voter initiative.

Here are just a few of the overnight highlights:

• Sci-fi and fantasy ruled the wee hours, from Neil Gaiman and Douglas Adams to C.S. Lewis and J.K. Rowling. 
• Nerdfighters.  Who knew?
• Poignant readings from The Hunger Games, The Book of Lost Things, and The Fifth Agreement
• Two words:  David Conrad.  Hilarity ensued!
• Classic literature from Twain, Salinger and Burroughs
• Loads of giddy, caffeinated, and/or sleep-deprived laughter and banter

Green with envy?  It’s not too late!  We’ll be reading to the people until noon today, so stop by Main Library in Oakland.  Upcoming highlights include children’s books and family-friendly fun, a visit from some local luminaries, and a grand finale that will knock your socks off.

Hope to see you soon!  If you simply can’t, please check us out, and spread the word, on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.

Leigh Anne

blogging and yawning.

Whole Lotta Readin’ Goin’ On

If you haven’t made it to Oakland for Read to the People yet, you are missing the most enthusiastic, exciting show of library support since Andrew Carnegie dedicated Main Library. Here are just a few highlights from this afternoon and evening’s readings:

• The Pirate Parrot’s vivacious pantomime of “Casey at the Bat.”
• The Toonseum’s Joe Wos drawing a magical tale of a fairy flower princess.
• Councilman R. Daniel Lavalle reading Langston Hughes
• Lynn Cullen reading David McCullough
• Kristofer Collins reading from the poetry of Frank O’Hara
• A dramatic reading from Time Stand Still, the play currently in production at City Theatre, by two of the show’s lead actors.
• A birthday celebration (really)!
• Lots and lots of fireworks (really)!
• A whole hour of readings by local fashion designers.

As I type, there’s an hour of poetry afoot.  If you can make it down here tonight or tomorrow, I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed.  There are so many interesting readers and readings, as well as so much unintentional hilarity, that I can barely keep up recording it!

With a big thanks to everyone who read today, and with gratitude for those readers yet to come, I remain your faithful onsite blogger.  I’m headed back outside to take pictures and serve as the timer in hour twelve, the halfway mark.

Leigh Anne

who read from The Odyssey, but drank not of the wine-dark sea

And They’re Off!

Just in case you weren’t here for the Read to the People kickoff, here’s a small sample of what you’ve missed!

Senator Jay Costa reading from Andrew Carnegie

After Senator Costa’s opening remarks, the reading was on. And on, and on, and on!  So far today we’ve heard snippets of Lord of the Flies, The Skin I’m In, The Vagina Monologues, and other titles both classic and contemporary.  Between bouts of rain, the sun is shining fiercely, and the readers and volunteers remain undaunted.

 

To keep up with the deluge of photos we’re uploading, check out our Flickr set!  And if you’re a video fan, you’ll want to keep an eye on our YouTube channel.  If you’re coming to the Read-Aloud and want to upload your own video to YouTube, please tag your creation with the phrase “read to the people.”  And if you’re more of the photo-sharing kind, please tag us on Facebook as Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.  Twitter user?  Tag your tweet #read1440, and don’t forget to follow @OLOFPA.

 

Leigh Anne

whose favorite reading so far today was Brian O’Neill’s excerpts from his own work, The Paris of Appalachia.