Kishwaukee College Library has been selected as one of 300 libraries to participate in Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries — an American Library Association (ALA) initiative that helps library workers better serve their communities.
The competitive award comes with a $3,000 grant that will help the Kish Library provide books and e-books for a community-wide online conversation on the topic of loneliness.
“We are pleased to be selected for this opportunity,” said Library Director Frances Whaley. “This grant will enable our library to help our students and surrounding communities increase mental health awareness together. Stephanie Henricks, grant project manager, and I are eager to facilitate this greatly needed conversation.”
Kishwaukee College Library will partner with the libraries of Northern Illinois University, DeKalb and Sycamore to host a Zoom conversation at 3 pm on Thursday, Oct. 21. Students, faculty and community members will discuss the book “Together” by Surgeon General Vivek Murthy about loneliness. The conversation will explore what can be done to alleviate the effects of loneliness for ourselves and the people around us.
Isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the lives of students and those in local communities. All are welcome to participate in the discussion, whether they have read the book or not. Please register to receive the Zoom link at www.kish.edu/library.
Since 2014, ALA’s Libraries Transforming Communities initiative has reimagined the role libraries play in supporting communities. Libraries of all types utilize free dialogue, deliberation training and resources to lead community and campus forums; take part in anti-violence activities; provide a space for residents to come together and discuss challenging topics; and have productive conversations with civic leaders, library trustees and staff.
For more information on Kishwaukee College Library or to register for the event, visit www.kish.edu/library.
Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries is an initiative of the American Library Association (ALA) in collaboration with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL).