Island Readers & Writers

The organization, Island Readers and Writers: An Initiative for Maine Children began as informal visits supported by an independent bookstore on Mount Desert. Incorporated by May  2006 in Hancock County, Maine, the group received approval as a non-profit 501 (c ) (3) organization in July 2007. The mission is to provide programs and services that encourage a passion for reading among children living on Maine’s islands. Island children live in remote places and don't get many visitors, especially visitors who are there just for them..

Our programs are designed to encourage excitement for books and the creativity they inspire. The children say,

• "We love seeing the behind the scenes planning an author does."
• "How an illustrator makes waves using a toothbrush and to see that 'famous' people wear jeans and get writers block too!"

IRW Programs:
The Island Book & Author Program brings Maine authors and illustrators of children’s books to island schools to share the creative side of books and bookmaking. The children learn from authors/illustrators how books are developed, starting from a personal expression of creativity, through words and images. During the author  presentations  and activities, each child receives a personally inscribed book. The other program, Friends Over Books, meets in island libraries during the summer, and links adult volunteers who love books with younger readers. The children respond to the adults’ encouragement to expand in their understanding of themselves and the world around them. Each child is given a copy of books read by the group. A culminating event brings all participants together to celebrate the joy of reading.

IRW Core Beliefs:
Island Readers & Writers believes that a passion for reading can broaden, deepen and enrich children’s lives. Children who are engaged in an exciting experience with authors, illustrators and other passionate readers will be further inspired to read on their own.

1. Reading opens doors to new opportunities. Through reading, children realize that books offer opportunities for exploration and that readers can travel to new lands and encounter new ideas without physically leaving their own island community.

2. Learning to read is not the same as loving to read. Voluntary reading develops intellectual curiosity, encourages focused attention, and exercises the imagination.

3. Books offer something that electronic media does not. Nothing can invoke reflection and intimacy like a book. Electronic media is valuable, but not the same as a book.

4. While all island communities share certain strengths and challenges, each island community is unique. Our programs grow out of the expressed needs and interests of the islanders, not from what we think they want. We ask them. We offer options that work best for their children, their school, and their community.

Private and grant funding supports both individual and extended, single-day school visits or multi-day residencies where an author or illustrator can engage students in a more focused writing and/or illustrating project – selecting the topic, envisioning, researching and writing/rewriting and illustrating. Fine arts instruction is limited in these isolated school communities due to financial issues or logistics, working with a professional illustrator or author provides benefits that a classroom teacher can not. To date, the Island Book & Author program has hosted sixteen authors and illustrators to meet and work with over 1400 children, providing books to each child.

Expenses:
Program expenses include fees, transportation, lodging and meals for the author/illustrators and volunteers when they travel to the islands.  Transportation will involve costs to travel by land, air and water. Currently we are working with six islands. Because of boat schedules, fall and spring visits are contingent on weather. Expenses for each Island Book & Author visit includes purchasing books for each child and the fees and expenses associated with visiting island schools.

Funding:
Support for Island Readers & Writers comes from private contributions and the generous support of The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation and the Cabot Family Charitable Trust, Port In A Storm Bookstore, Lynam Fund, Hancock County Fund of the Maine Community Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Maine Charity Foundation Fund, Maine Humanities Council and the Maine Arts Commission. Since becoming a 501(c) (3) in 2007, we have established an endowment fund with the Maine Community Foundation and seek contributions to support our continued organization development, sustain current programs and planned expansion, and strengthen our endowment.