By Madison Brown | Staff WriterNow that October has begun, the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library has started preparing for the event that honors everyone’s favorite story set in a galaxy far, far away: Star Wars Reads Day.Star Wars Reads Day is a family-friendly national literacy initiative that was started in 2012 by Lucasfilm. Star Wars Reads Day is held in several cities across the country, such as Los Angeles, Calif., and New York City, N.Y., to celebrate all things Star Wars while promoting literacy and instilling the joy of reading in young children. This year’s celebration marks the fifth year that Augusta has been celebrating Star Wars Reads Day.Corey Rogers, one of the coordinators and contributors of Star Wars Reads Day, was interviewed by The Bell Ringer to discuss what the event actually is, how it was brought to Augusta, and how it affects the Augusta community.Rogers explained that he had been in the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library one day when he was asked if he was interested in displaying part of his collection of Star Wars memorabilia in the Georgia room to show the genealogy of Star Wars. Rogers agreed, and when his collection went up on display, it was well received by the public.While doing research for his display, Rogers came across an article about Star Wars Reads Day and became intrigued by the possibilities that having the event in Augusta could offer.“We figured that what we could do was do a Star Wars Reads Day and let it sort of piggyback with the exhibit and use the exhibit as sort of a hook to get people out,” he said.During the first year that the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library hosted its own Star Wars Reads Day, the event drew in around 50 people. Now that they are moving into their fifth year celebrating the event, they have received crowds of up to 250 people. For this year, they are hoping that they will be able to surpass that with around 300 people participating in the event.“It’s certainly something that people look forward to because it’s something that cuts across our demographics in Augusta from different socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnic groups and especially those like myself that are true diehard geeks,” Rogers said. “Those are the people that really come out.”The library can draw in such large crowds by the various activities that the event offers. Along with the reading of Star Wars novels to the children in attendance, there are also trivia, games, and an arts and crafts station, along with opportunities to receive fun Star Wars themed items through door prizes and a silent auction. Each year there are also around 250 custom Star Wars prints made to give away first come, first served to the attendees at the event.“We create a brand new piece of artwork every year just for the event and we number it from one to 250, and once it’s gone it’s gone,” Rogers said.In addition to the items available at Star Wars Reads Day, there is live entertainment throughout the event. An official Star Wars cosplay group called the 501st Legion has members that will attend the event and a costume recognition contest will occur for any independent cosplayers that dress up. The Richmond County Orchestra will play music from the Star Wars soundtracks throughout the event. There will also be a guest of honor who will have a Q & A session at the event.“This year, it’s a young lady by the name of Nalini Krishan who plays Jedi Knight Barriss Offee in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones,” Rogers said.After listening to Rogers tell exactly what Star Wars Reads Day is, he was next asked about how the event affects the Augusta community. Rogers explained that Star Wars Reads Day is celebrated differently in each city, but the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library chooses to make promoting literacy in school-age children the main goal of its event.When asked about how the event can affect college students in the area, whether they are at Augusta University or Paine College, Rogers said that Star Wars Reads Day is a great opportunity for students to connect with young kids and show them how important and fun reading can be.“College-aged students could get together and purchase books for kids to support literacy at a young age,” he said.Rogers said that they could go further than just reading to the kids and purchasing books. He mentioned education majors specifically and how they could attend the event, read to the students, and use it as an opportunity to find kids that may need extra help and provide mentorship for those students.He also said that many teachers come to the event, so Star Wars Reads Day could be a good opportunity for network building in the Augusta community.“There are a lot of college students who could come out to the event and maybe connect with some of the students there and instead of it being a one-time deal, they could work with some of the students on an ongoing basis,” Rogers said.When asked what she would say to get people to come out to Star Wars Reads Day, Aspasia Luster, a senior library assistant in the Reese Library at Augusta University, had this to say:“Well, first of all, it’s free,” Luster said. “It’s very family friendly with games, arts and crafts, and free snacks.”Star Wars Reads Day begins Saturday, Oct. 14, on the third floor of the headquarters in the Augusta Public Library from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.Contact Madison Brown at madbrown@augusta.edu.
By Madison Brown | Staff WriterNow that October has begun, the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library has started preparing for the event that honors everyone’s favorite story set in a galaxy far, far away: Star Wars Reads Day.Star Wars Reads Day is a family-friendly national literacy initiative that was started in 2012 by Lucasfilm. Star Wars Reads Day is held in several cities across the country, such as Los Angeles, Calif., and New York City, N.Y., to celebrate all things Star Wars while promoting literacy and instilling the joy of reading in young children. This year’s celebration marks the fifth year that Augusta has been celebrating Star Wars Reads Day.Corey Rogers, one of the coordinators and contributors of Star Wars Reads Day, was interviewed by The Bell Ringer to discuss what the event actually is, how it was brought to Augusta, and how it affects the Augusta community.Rogers explained that he had been in the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library one day when he was asked if he was interested in displaying part of his collection of Star Wars memorabilia in the Georgia room to show the genealogy of Star Wars. Rogers agreed, and when his collection went up on display, it was well received by the public.While doing research for his display, Rogers came across an article about Star Wars Reads Day and became intrigued by the possibilities that having the event in Augusta could offer.“We figured that what we could do was do a Star Wars Reads Day and let it sort of piggyback with the exhibit and use the exhibit as sort of a hook to get people out,” he said.During the first year that the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library hosted its own Star Wars Reads Day, the event drew in around 50 people. Now that they are moving into their fifth year celebrating the event, they have received crowds of up to 250 people. For this year, they are hoping that they will be able to surpass that with around 300 people participating in the event.“It’s certainly something that people look forward to because it’s something that cuts across our demographics in Augusta from different socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnic groups and especially those like myself that are true diehard geeks,” Rogers said. “Those are the people that really come out.”The library can draw in such large crowds by the various activities that the event offers. Along with the reading of Star Wars novels to the children in attendance, there are also trivia, games, and an arts and crafts station, along with opportunities to receive fun Star Wars themed items through door prizes and a silent auction. Each year there are also around 250 custom Star Wars prints made to give away first come, first served to the attendees at the event.“We create a brand new piece of artwork every year just for the event and we number it from one to 250, and once it’s gone it’s gone,” Rogers said.In addition to the items available at Star Wars Reads Day, there is live entertainment throughout the event. An official Star Wars cosplay group called the 501st Legion has members that will attend the event and a costume recognition contest will occur for any independent cosplayers that dress up. The Richmond County Orchestra will play music from the Star Wars soundtracks throughout the event. There will also be a guest of honor who will have a Q & A session at the event.“This year, it’s a young lady by the name of Nalini Krishan who plays Jedi Knight Barriss Offee in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones,” Rogers said.After listening to Rogers tell exactly what Star Wars Reads Day is, he was next asked about how the event affects the Augusta community. Rogers explained that Star Wars Reads Day is celebrated differently in each city, but the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library chooses to make promoting literacy in school-age children the main goal of its event.When asked about how the event can affect college students in the area, whether they are at Augusta University or Paine College, Rogers said that Star Wars Reads Day is a great opportunity for students to connect with young kids and show them how important and fun reading can be.“College-aged students could get together and purchase books for kids to support literacy at a young age,” he said.Rogers said that they could go further than just reading to the kids and purchasing books. He mentioned education majors specifically and how they could attend the event, read to the students, and use it as an opportunity to find kids that may need extra help and provide mentorship for those students.He also said that many teachers come to the event, so Star Wars Reads Day could be a good opportunity for network building in the Augusta community.“There are a lot of college students who could come out to the event and maybe connect with some of the students there and instead of it being a one-time deal, they could work with some of the students on an ongoing basis,” Rogers said.When asked what she would say to get people to come out to Star Wars Reads Day, Aspasia Luster, a senior library assistant in the Reese Library at Augusta University, had this to say:“Well, first of all, it’s free,” Luster said. “It’s very family friendly with games, arts and crafts, and free snacks.”Star Wars Reads Day begins Saturday, Oct. 14, on the third floor of the headquarters in the Augusta Public Library from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.Contact Madison Brown at madbrown@augusta.edu.