FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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[LIBRARY/ORGANIZATION] receives ‘Great Stories Club’ book club programming grant for at-risk teens
([CITY]) — [LIBRARY/ORGANIZATION] has been selected to receive a competitive grant from the American Library Association (ALA) to host a reading and discussion program for at-risk youth about teen violence and suicide.
As one of 75 Great Stories Club grant recipients selected from across the country, [LIBRARY/ORGANIZATION] will work with a group of (##) teens to read and discuss three books in which protagonists deal with issues surrounding teen violence, bullying and suicide.
“So many teens in our community struggle with issues of violence and suicide, and much of the time, adults are painfully unaware of what they’re going through,” said [SPOKESPERSON NAME, TITLE]. “We’re thrilled to be able to use literature to start these important conversations with our young people.”
The book titles, under the theme “Structures of Suffering: Origins of Teen Violence and Suicide,” include: “Thirteen Reasons Why” by Jay Asher; “It’s Kind of a Funny Story” by Ned Vizzini; and “Romeo and Juliet” (No Fear Shakespeare Graphic Novels” illustrated by Matt Weigle. The titles — selected by librarian advisors and humanities scholars — were chosen to resonate with reluctant readers who struggle with complex issues such as incarceration, violence and poverty.
[LIBRARY/ORGANIZATION] will receive 11 copies of each of the three books, which will be gifted to the book club participants. The [LIBRARY/ORGANIZATION] will also receive training and resources to assist them with leading the book group.
[INSERT any relevant details about your library/organization’s work with at-risk youth, related programming, or statistics about at-risk youth in your community.]
Gatherings of the Great Stories Club at [LIBRARY] will begin [DATE]. More information can be found at [WEBSITE] or by contacting [LIBRARY’S PHONE OR EMAIL ADDRESS]. [INSERT relevant information about the teens you will be working with or how they will be selected.]
Since its inception in 2006, ALA’s Great Stories Club has reached 670 libraries in 49 states and more than 30,000 young adults (ages 13 to 21). The grant is administered by ALA’s Public Programs Office in partnership with the Association for Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA), including the Library Services for Youth in Custody and Library Services to the Incarcerated and Detained interest groups. The Great Stories Club is made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence.
About [LIBRARY/ORGANIZATION]
[INSERT boilerplate text about your library and/or partner organization]
About the American Library Association
The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with approximately 58,000 members in academic, public, school, government and special libraries. The mission of the American Library Association is to provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.
About the National Endowment for the Humanities
Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at www.neh.gov.