The Orange Library Association will kick off the Big Read, its countywide reading project celebrating the works of Edgar Allan Poe, on October 1st, 2010, with a weekend of activities.

Patrons of Orange County libraries have access to 197 titles by Edgar Allan Poe, including audio books (cassette, CD, and Playaway). movies (videocassette and DVD), Spanish language and large print editions, as well as several titles available through the Overdrive Digital Download Center at http://efiles.rcls.org.

According to the National Endowment for the Arts, "No author stays internationally popular for 150 years by accident. Poe is one of the classic authors of American literature - a master of the short story, a magician of the short poem, and critic of brilliance and originality. Let us underestimate him nevermore!"

For more information, visit www.orangereads.org.