Black Caucus of the American Library Association announces Reading is Grand! Celebrating Grand-Families Telling Our Stories @ Your Library grant winners

WASHINGTON, DC – During the American Library Association (ALA) Conference and Exhibition, June 20 – June 25, Karen Lemmons, Chair of the 2018 Reading is Grand! Celebrating Grand-Families Telling Our Stories @ Your Library Selection Committee announced two libraries will receive the 2019 Reading is Grand! grant. Reading is Grand! is a celebration of the important role African American grandparents and older adults play in the lives of children. It is through their infinite wisdom and experience that children learn the unique cultural and familial values that help them grow into valuable contributors to the community.

The grant-winning libraries — Ferguson Library South End Branch, Stamford, CT and Langston Hughes Community Library & Cultural Center, Corona N— were selected based on the level of creativity and originality of program criteria, action plans, level of involvement of grandparents in the activities, and impact of the program on the community.

The four winning programs are as follows:

Ferguson Library South End Branch, Stamford, CT.

The theme, “Booking it On the Bookmobile,” begins August 29, with a series of programs, introducing children, grandparents and caregivers to raise awareness of the importance of reading and family and to highlight African American culture through reading, songs, and art.

Grandparents and caregivers will read books about the African American experience and share their own personal stories with the children. The culminating event will consist of book giveaways, painting, storytelling.

Langston Hughes Community & Cultural Center, Corona, NY.

Award-winning illustrator George Ford is the featured presenter/illustrator for the Langston Hughes’ Community and Cultural Center Reading is Grand event. Mr. Ford will present his art and explain how his illustrations tell the African experience. Mr. Ford and the Children’s Librarian will lead the children and grandparents into reading, art, and storytelling activities. The culminating activity will be children and grandparents sharing their art and stories.

The 2019 Reading is Grand Celebrating Grand-Families @ Your Library selection committee includes, Chair Karen Lemmons, Library Media Specialist, Detroit School of Arts, Detroit, MI; Kirby McCurtis, Administrator, North Portland Library, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR and Kathy Carroll, Lead Library Media Specialist, Westwood High School, Blythewood, SC.

About BCALA

The Black Caucus of the American Library Association serves as an advocate for the development, promotion, and improvement of library services and resources to the nation’s African American community; and provides leadership for the recruitment and professional development of African American librarians.

Contact Person:

Karen Lemmons, Chair 2019 Reading is Grand! Selection Committee
Phone: 313.580.4253
Email: [email protected]