Synopsis
This is a fundraiser to buy equipment to launch an audio-books radio station on the FM dial and internet streaming.
Why
We look at the state of education today. Why aren’t people graduating from highschool? Why are colleges having to do remedial work? And what about the people who are the product of this system over the last few decades and are now out trying to make their living? We don’t blame teachers or administrators. Some of the best minds in the country are interested in making our education system work. But we want to do something that may help.
Would an increased familarity with classic works of literature lead to a broader interest in literacy, a better understanding of history and more appreciation for people of other places and times?
It is a sure bet that more rock/country/hip-hop/sports/political-talk on the radio, more of the same stuff playing today, leaves most of radio out. It’s just another entertainment backwater. Public radio is a great source for national news and some insightful and interesting programming.
What
We want a public-radio feel with a classic literature content. We would love to have commentary, interviews with authors, editorials which put current events in the light of history, local works, local authors… there’s a whole world out there which is waiting to be opened up.
We have a population we can serve: folks who don’t read for one reason or another, those folks who don’t go to the library and have no idea of the treasures between book covers. And there are people who are just too busy trying to keep up with the world, we’ll serve them a bit of poetry during their drive to work.
The content is ready. Volunteers have prepared an incredible resource at librivox.org.
Who
We are a husband and wife in Columbus, MS. We work. We don’t have time to save the world. But maybe we can focus enough of the random energy of humanity on our corner of the world to get this project going. We registered a non-profit corporation, Classic Book Radio with this specific goal: to improve literacy through the broadcast of classic works of literature.
We have experience in IT and radio and we love books.
You
If you are interested in radio, would like to see a new format on the air;
if you are interested in books and want other people to love them like you do;
if you are interested in education and want to help push back the dark cloud of ignorance