2022 - Hope College, Big Read Lakeshore Program

Hope College hosted a three-day network exchange workshop in Holland, MI at the Haworth Hotel  for 13 faculty members from the Lilly Network. The workshop focused on the intersections of literature, faith, and campus and community engagement by exploring Hope College’s NEA Big Read Lakeshore program, an annual month-long community-wide reading program focused on the reading of a common book, as a springboard to discuss faculty members’ participation in literature-based programs. During the workshop, participants explored faith-based approaches to studying and discussing literature, alignments between institutional missions and program goals, best practices around program implementation and partnerships (churches, librarians, educational institutions, non-profits), and ways to conduct research and scholarship around program involvements. The workshop was open to faculty from the Lilly Network who led, were involved with or interested in starting  literature-based campus and/or community programs and included faculty from 9 states and who represented a variety of academic positions including Dean, professors of all ranks, directors of specific programs, and an Education Librarian attended the workshop.

The workshop was designed to provide the participants with insight and perspective into various aspects of literature-based programming for campuses and/or communities. The schedule included 9 different sessions that involved a variety of panelists (faculty and staff members at Hope College, public librarians, teachers, and community members involved in the Big Read) and speakers.