Expect phones to go unanswered and televisions to fall silent at 10 a.m. Oct. 3 as an estimated 190,000 people of all ages take Time Out For Reading across Northwest Indiana.

Literacy is what it's all about, so at that time, schoolchildren, college professors, grandparents and even federal judges will stop whatever they are doing, put on a red clown nose and follow the Northwest Indiana Literacy Coalition's suggestion to "Put Your Nose in a Book." The movement has spread from Lake and Porter counties to include LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, Starke and Pulaski counties.

"The support we've received from people all over has been amazing," said Dian Reyome, a Centier Bank marketing executive and president of the NWI Literacy Coalition. "This is really about more than Oct. 3 - it's about the importance of literacy and reading to everyone.

The coalition has teamed up this year with Books To Bridge The Region, a community reading initiative involving colleges and universities, libraries, media outlets, booksellers and other organizations. Throughout October, area residents will read and discuss three age-appropriate titles on the theme "Journeys and Quests." Related programming for all ages includes author visits and storytellers.

"It works out beautifully, since Time Out For Reading and Books To Bridge are both in October," said Jennifer Burnison, marketing manager for the Lake County Public Library.

To promote this year's Time Out For Reading day and Books To Bridge, volunteers from community organizations are filling 500 "treasure bags" with bookmarks, clown noses, posters, promotional materials and copies of the "Journeys and Quests" books. The bags are being distributed to every school, library and college campus in 58 cities and towns in all seven participating counties, with order forms for those requesting more noses and bookmarks for every student, teacher, staffer and supporter interested in participating.

The public also may participate. Free red noses and bookmarks are available by calling (219) 933-2419, ext. 1966, or visiting www.nwiliteracy.org

"Books are treasures and reading holds the key to the future, so we thought this was a good way to emphasize that," said Dennis Gray, resource facilitator in the Hammond Adult Education Department and a leader in both Hammond Reads and the NWI Literacy Coalition.

Hammond Reads will host its annual Time Out For Reading breakfast and reading event Oct. 3 at the federal courthouse in downtown Hammond, where invited guests will celebrate with the reading of the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution in seven languages, a vendor expo and students from two local schools meeting with a judge to learn about the court system.

For more information, visit the Northwest Indiana Literacy Council at www.nwiliteracy.org or e-mail timeout4reading@cs.com. Information on Books to Bridge the Region, including a schedule of related events, is at www.books2bridge.org or e-mail info@books2bridge.org

BREAKOUT

This year's Books To Bridge The Region titles, available at local libraries and book stores, are the following:

Picture/easy reading selection: "The Journey of Oliver K. Woodman" by Darcy Pattison, illustrated by Joe Cepeda

Young adult selection: "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan

Adult selection: "Shadow Divers" by Robert Kurson

All three authors are scheduled to make appearances at Books To Bridge events in October. A schedule is at www.books2bridge.org or e-mail info@books2bridge.org