On September 22, 2021, at 7:00PM, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, Massachusetts Center for the Book, and libraries across the Commonwealth will be hosting a Commonwealth Watch Party and Conversation in collaboration with the Library of Congress and National Book Festival 2021.
The event features Pulitzer Prize winner Isabel Wilkerson, author of Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, in a video recorded for National Book Festival discussing the book.
After the video, there will be a conversation facilitated by former Massachusetts Representative and legendary civil rights advocate Byron Rushing, a strong library advocate, & Professor Roopika Risam, noted scholar in Public Humanities and African diaspora and Indigenous Studies at Salem State University and recipient of the first Civil Liberties Champion Award from Massachusetts Library Association. Krista McLeod, Director of Nevins Library (Methuen) and Molly Fogarty, Director of Springfield City Library, will be moderators.
Libraries in Massachusetts can participate by promoting the event to their users.
Promotional materials include:
Resource Page with helpful info
Biographies and photos of Byron Rushing and Roopika Risam
Suggested text for newsletters (Word Doc)
Template press release (Word Doc)
Social Media Graphics and suggested text
FACEBOOK:
A COMMONWEALTH WATCH PARTY AND COMMUNITY CONVERSATION: Join us on Weds, Sept 22 (7:00 pm) for this “National Book Festival Near You” virtual event! An NBF video of @IsabelWilkersonWriter, author of “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents,” with conversation to follow led by @repbyronrushing, former MA State Rep and legendary civil rights advocate, and @salemstateuniversity Professor and Public Scholar Roopika Risam. Co-sponsored by @mblclibraries and @masscenterforthebook, supported by @libraryofcongress. Free, register here: https://bit.ly/NBF2021MassWatchParty
TWITTER:
Don’t miss this “National Book Festival Near You” virtual event, Weds, 9/22, 7 pm. A video of @isabelwilkerson (CASTE: THE ORIGINS OF OUR DISCONTENTS) with conversation led by @ByronRushing and @roopikarisam. @mblclibraries @masscenterforthebook @librarycongress. Free, register: https://bit.ly/NBF2021MassWatchParty
INSTAGRAM:
Don't miss this "National Book Festival Near You" virtual event, Weds, 9/22, 7 pm. A video of @isabelwilkerson (CASTE: THE ORIGINS OF OUR DISCONTENTS) with conversation to follow led by former MA State Rep and legendary civil rights advocate Byron Rushing, and @salemstate Professor and Public Scholar Roopika Risam. Free, register: https://bit.ly/NBF2021MassWatchParty @mblclibraries @masscenterforbook @librarycongress
Hashtag
The hashtag for the event is #CasteinMA
Printable Bookmarks
Posters
11x17 posters will be sent to all libraries in Massachusetts during the second week of September
Need more? Contact celeste.bruno@mass.gov or matthew.s.perry@mass.gov
Registration
For patrons: https://bit.ly/NBF2021MassWatchParty
For libraries: your library will be listed as a co-sponsor of the event https://mblc.libwizard.com/id/5a4e6e7e25d63c492bb3fa5b5ea02f68
Website for Residents
A page on the MBLC Public Portal has been made to point interested residents to
Questions
Sharon Shaloo (MCB) shaloo@massbook.org
Ellen Flanagan Kenny (MCB) ellenfkenny@massbook.org
Celeste Bruno (MBLC) celeste.bruno@mass.gov
Matt Perry (MBLC) matthew.s.perry@mass.gov