For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Heather O’Connell
239-461-2924
Fort Myers, FL; May 29, 2008 –
Talk show host Oprah Winfrey is
helping some at-risk local teens stay connected to reading. The Great
Stories Book Club, which is funded by Oprah’s Angel Network, is designed to reach underserved,
troubled teens with books that are relevant to their lives.
Lee County Library System was one of about 200
libraries in the country to receive this year’s Great
Stories Book Club grant. The grant allows library staff to lead reading and
discussions with teens at the Quality Life Center Of Southwest Florida, the
Ava
Barrett, Manager of the future Northwest Regional Library applied for the grant
as part of one of her objectives for the Sunshine State Library Leadership
Institute. Barrett’s goal was to work with non-profit agencies that are helping
at-risk teens.
”I
was inspired by the tremendous impact the program has had in other libraries,
where teens who were classified as non-readers not only started reading, but
wanted to continue reading following the program,” Barrett said. Her plans for
the program include opportunities for the teens to express
ideas about the books through scriptwriting, skits and artwork.
The
grant provides paperback copies of the three Young Adult titles selected for
this year’s Great Stories Book Club theme, Choices: Hole in My Life, by Jack Gantos, Sold
by Patricia McCormick, and Tyrell
by Coe Booth. Each participating teen will receive a copy of one
of the books to keep.
Additional copies of these titles are also available, and can be checked out
from any Lee County Library System location. Hole in My Life may also be
downloaded from the Lee County Library System website at www.lee-county.com/library
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