Community Reads: Winona Reads

SELCO's Community Reads Grant Program?is a subset of our Community Collaboration Grant. Designed specifically to aid libraries in their community-wide reading efforts, this program is intended to promote reading, research, and discovery through the sharing of perspectives among local residents who read the same book and participate in programs focused on the community selected title. Unlike Community Collaboration Grants, this is not a competitive grant program. It is reviewed by SELCO staff to assure compliance with state statutes. Each library may be awarded up to $1,500 toward its program, with funds able to be used to underwrite the honoraria and travel expenses of featured speakers and expand local advertising/marketing. The book used in the community read was My Two Elaine's by Martin Schreiber. Schreiber, former Governor of Wisconsin, wrote about his experiences as a caregiver for his wife Elaine after she developed Alzheimer's Disease. For the program, 108 of the My Two Elaine's books were purchased & given out for free. Several events took place throughout the week including a community event with organizations, a dementia-friendly choir, & the Beatriz lab. Douglas McGill of Rochester, MN gave his Leaf Artist Presentation; the movie Iris was shown; the book was discussed at the library's book discussion group; & there was a REACH panel. The final event featured the author, Martin Schreiber. All events were at the Winona Friendship Center except the book discussion which was at the library. The Friendship Center accommodates for larger groups.