Join more than one million readers nationwide as UMKC Libraries celebrates Black History Month by participating in the 23rd National African American Read In.

This year’s UMKC Read-In events will be on Feb. 21, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. at the Miller Nichols Library iX Theatre, and Feb. 29, Noon – 1:30 p.m. at Hospital Hill’s Diastole Scholars Center, 26th and Holmes. The Read-in is sponsored by the UMKC Friends of the Library and the UMKC Alumni Committee on Multicultural and Community Affairs.

Everyone is invited to come to hear and experience the riches of African-American literary and other artists. Related exhibits will be on display on the Ground and 2nd Floors of Miller Nichols Library.

Registration is no longer required. Instead, participants are encouraged to stop by either or both sessions and read, sing, and perform a work from the African-American author of your choice. First come, first share.

For those who wish to reserve space as a sharer or listener, event organizers still offer pre-registration.

Contact Gloria Tibbs for more information. A printable event flyer is available for posting and sharing at the UMKC Libraries website. Photos from last year’s event can be seen on Flickr.