Our Programs

In addition to working to connect the public with literacy organizations, creating a forum for them to convene, Maine Reads offers the following programs.

The Maine Festival of the Book returns to Portland March 29 – April 1, 2012.

You have done here… in a couple years, what it’s taken other literary festivals in other states a decade or more to accomplish, and I thank you for inviting me.– David Baldacci, bestselling author and keynote speaker at the Maine Festival of the Book 2008

Since 2007, the Maine Festival of the Book has been held in the spring in downtown Portland. It celebrates the written word by presenting programs appealing to a range of tastes and interests. With the exception of two events, the programs are free. This literary extravaganza consists of panel discussions, signings, readings, performances, and other events, and attracts Maine’s cadre of outstanding authors, as well as some major writers from outside the state.  More than 3000 people have attended the festival since its inception two years ago. Past presenters include Pulitzer-Prize winners David McCullough, Richard Ford, Elizabeth Strout, Paul Harding, and Maxine Kumin, as well as Tess Gerritsen, Wesley McNair, David Baldacci, Brian Wood, Crystal Zevon, Anita Shreve, Julia Spencer-Fleming, Monica Wood, Patrick Quinlan, Ron Currie, Elizabeth Hand and many others.

Maine Reads Community Literacy Project
The Maine Reads Community Literacy Project is designed to strengthen communities and literacy by helping libraries to reach out into their communities and create new literacy initiatives. Libraries have the opportunity to apply for seed money for these initiatives. Please note that the upcoming grant deadlines are November 15 for planning grants and April 1 for implementation grants. All recipients of planning grants from 2008 must reapply in November for renewed planning grant status.

Read With ME.
Read With ME. is funded by FairPoint Communications and the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein. It is a statewide literacy program that brings books to every kindergartner in Maine. Read With ME. bookbags holding the featured book and additional materials are delivered to elementary schools throughout the state with the help of almost 100 loyal volunteers including the Army National Guard, FairPoint Pioneers and FairPoint technicians.