Please note that this event has ended. See our Event Calendar for current activities at the library.
Saturday, September 14
Book Giveaway begins at 9am.
The Kick-Off Program, The Global Cold War, begins at 9:30am.
Connect with ideas and your community during our annual Big Read programming series! Each fall we select a title we encourage everyone to read and talk about. We give away 65 books, thanks to the Friends of the Library, and host a variety of programs that expand on the book's themes.
The 2024 Adult Title is Wise Gals by Natalia Holt. This book features the never-before-told story of a small cadre of influential female spies in the precarious early days of the CIA—women who helped create the template for cutting-edge espionage in the treacherous post-WWII era
We recommend arriving early to receive your copy!
“From my experience as Director of the CIA, it was clear that both men and women played critical roles in defending our nation. Unfortunately, history and legend focuses largely on the men who were part of the CIA – “male, pale and Yale” summarized the makeup of early spies. But the reality is that both men and women made up the “silent warriors” who put their lives on the line to gather intelligence. There always were influential female spies who led dangerous missions behind enemy lines. Because of the great research by author Nathalia Holt, their story is finally being told in Wise Gals. Their patriotism will be an inspiration to both men and women who want to serve this country.” –Leon Panetta, former Director of the CIA (2009-11) and U. S. Secretary of Defense (2011-13)
For young readers:
Little Read: Code Breaker, Spy Hunter by Laurie Wallmark
Middle Read: The Enigma Girls by Candace Fleming
