The Athens Regional Library is one of several selected from around the nation to take part in the Ray Bradbury Read-A-Thon this weekend. This is the first of what organizers plan to make an annual event. More than 40 readers from various professions will read excerpts from the author’s iconic work, “Fahrenheit 451.”
Evan Michael Bush, Children’s Service Coordinator with the library and longtime Bradbury fan, is one of two readers from Athens.
“I’m a huge Bradbury fan and have been all of my life,” said Bush. “Ray Bradbury has always been a big supporter of public libraries and spent much of his time and got a lot of his learning from libraries. He didn’t have an official degree.”
While many library-affiliated readers are taking part, organizers choose participants from all walks of life.
“It was really wonderful to find out that Carla Hayden, of the Library of Congress, William Shatner and Neil Gaiman, who is a personal favorite. Who [Gaiman] is also a children’s author, as well as he’s written comic books and adult books and is a Newbery Award winner. So being in the company of fellow librarians and performers and these big-name folks is quite an honor.”
The virtual read-a-thon will be streamed on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram on Saturday, August 22. It celebrates the 100th anniversary of Bradbury’s birth. WUGA’s Alexia Ridley was also one of the readers selected.