ALA LTC Spring Book Discussions


Essex Library is one of 200 libraries across the country selected to receive a grant through Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Focus on Small & Rural Libraries, an initiative of the American Library Association (ALA). We were the only library in Connecticut to receive a grant in the first round of funding.

LTC: Focus on Small & Rural Libraries is a grant for those of us in small and rural communities to address issues of concern in our communities. Participating libraries receive training in how to lead conversations through an ALA e-course on facilitation skills; host a conversation with community members on a chosen topic; and receive grant funding to support community engagement efforts.

For our grant, Essex Library will host a series of book discussions on titles that examine income inequality, culminating with a discussion using the One Book, One Community model. We chose to examine income inequality because it is identified by ALA and the LION Consortium as a future trend of concern. Between 2018 and 2020, the percentage of ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households and households living below the poverty line, as measured by United Way, grew by eight percent in Essex.

Our Book Groups will read the following titles for this series:

Curbside Pickup Available

The Essex Library is currently offering Contact free pickup. In-person browsing, borrowing and computer services are also available. To reserve a book for Park and Pickup, call us at (860) 767-1560 or email us at staff.essexlib@gmail.com.

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