Community 'Read'; on Immigration

Outside Chicago, libraries and partners push all-ages effort

By Lynn Blumenstein -- Library Journal, 06/15/2007

Suburban Mosaic is a community reading program with a message—confronting and understanding issues of social and racial justice. Communities in the northwest suburbs of Chicago have become more diverse, and a group of libraries, schools, and community organizations will initiate a dialog on the topic of immigration through an all-ages book discussion program.

In May, titles were announced, with a different book for five age groups/reading levels. Discussion groups begin in the fall and will be held at libraries, in classrooms, in book clubs, and elsewhere.

The program was conceived by John Brennan while he was chair of the Mount Prospect, IL, Community Relations Commission. He approached Marilyn Genther, executive director of the Mount Prospect Public Library, who brought other local area libraries to the table.

The program has grown to include ten school districts, the local community college, a dozen libraries, the Daily Herald, and several community groups. More information about the program can be found on the Daily Herald web site, which has devoted a page to Suburban Mosaic.