Cobb County Public Library has been selected as one of 58 libraries nationwide to take part in the Great Stories Club, a reading and discussion program for underserved teens. This competitive grant is offered by the American Library Association (ALA) with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

Starting at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, Cobb librarians with experience working with underserved communities and teens will lead Great Stories Club discussions for teens incarcerated in the Marietta Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC) located off County Services Parkway.

Stratton Library Manager Patricia Ball and East Cobb Library Manager Dedra Roman will lead the Great Stories Club discussions. They will each work with a small group of teens to read and discuss stories that explore questions of race, equity, identity and history. Book discussions will be led by the two librarians in cooperation with staff from the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice.

The titles were selected to inspire young people — especially those facing difficult circumstances or challenges — to consider “big questions” about the world around them and their place in it.

CCPL will receive two $500 programming stipends, one per theme, and 11 copies of each of the selected books, which will be gifted to the book club participants. The librarians will also receive online training and an array of program resources and support throughout the grant term.

Since 2006, ALA’s Great Stories Club has helped libraries engage young adults with accessible, thought-provoking literature. To learn more about the Great Stories Club, please visit ala.org/greatstories.

For information on programs and resources offered by Cobb County Public Library, visit cobbcat.org.