ALA, Fetzer Institute join with Public Insight Network to expand Building Common Ground initiative

Chicago, October 25, 2011—The American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office announced their collaboration with the Public Insight Network (PIN), a project of American Public Media, to expand the reach of Building Common Ground: Discussions of Community, Civility and Compassion, a library programming initiative supported by the Fetzer Institute.

ALA is currently accepting applications from public libraries to receive a $2,500 grant in support of a multi-format discussion program for public audiences to spark action, engagement and reflection within the community. In order to encourage public conversations of emerging community issues, PIN will work with a public media partner in each selected library’s community, offering a matching grant of $2,500 to provide coverage of the library’s Building Common Ground programming.

More information about Building Common Ground: Discussions of Community, Civility and Compassion, including programming resources and the online application, is available at www.ala.org/commonground. Applications are due November 18, 2011.

The goal of the Building Common Ground: Discussions of Community, Civility and Compassion project is to engage the public in contemplation and discussion of the importance of community, civility and compassion in their daily lives. By bringing adult audiences together in the library for programs and events that include reading, viewing, reflection, discussion and civic engagement initiatives, Building Common Ground: Discussions of Community, Civility and Compassion programs will support public libraries as they strive to enhance the quality of life and learning in their communities. By inviting public media partners in to each participating library’s community, support from PIN will compound the impact of participating Building Common Ground programs

Resources to begin building a competitive application, including programming guides, a list of potential community partners and ideas for programming that will inspire the community to action, engagement and reflection are available at www.ala.org/commonground.

The Fetzer Institute is a private operating foundation based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Established by broadcast pioneer John E. Fetzer (1901-1991), the Institute works with an international team of advisors to create programs that foster awareness of the power that love and forgiveness can have in our world. With an endowment of more than $400 million, the Institute dedicates approximately $20 million annually toward its programming efforts.

The ALA Public Programs Office promotes cultural and community programming as an essential part of library service in all types and sizes of libraries. Successful library programming initiatives have included Let’s Talk About It reading and discussion series, traveling exhibitions, film discussion programs, the Great Stories CLUB, LIVE! @ your library and more. Recently, the ALA Public Programs Office developed www.ProgrammingLibrarian.org, an online resource center bringing librarians timely and valuable information to support them in the creation of high-quality cultural programs for their communities. For more information about the ALA Public Programs Office, visit www.ala.org/publicprograms.