Library And Schools To Explore Racism For Wilton Reads 2021

WILTON, CT — Wilton Library and Wilton School District will explore racism for the 2021 edition of the annual community-wide reading program, Wilton Reads.

The library will again be collaborating with the Wilton School District to facilitate discussions and conversations throughout the community on all levels.

At the recent Board of Education meeting, Elaine Tai-Lauria, executive director of Wilton
Library, and Fran Kompar, director of Digital Learning, Wilton Public Schools, announced the
topic for Wilton Reads 2021. The library’s selection is "Memorial Drive: A Daughter's Memoir,"
by Natasha Trethewey.

Tai-Lauria credited Lauren McLaughlin, assistant director of Patron Services, for the
selection and securing the author talk. Tai-Lauria said of the choice, "Much in the way we
brought the community together to discuss the Holocaust, now it is time to tackle another difficult conversation – that of racism. The topic and book choices will allow us to explore the subject matter via educational experiences and constructive dialogues among community members thereby fostering a deeper understanding of the issues."

The author Natasha Trethewey is a United States Poet Laureate (2012-2014) and a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet. In her memoir, the author chronicles her life growing up as a "child of miscegenation" in Mississippi, and how her life was impacted by her mother’s death during a horrific crime in 1985.

Kevin Smith, superintendent of Wilton Public Schools, said: "With Wilton residents showing their interest in this issue by participating in demonstrations and discussions this past spring, it is only natural that the schools should take part in the dialogue with the greater community. We applaud Wilton Library for advancing the conversations around this important and timely topic."

"Memorial Drive" has garnered numerous awards and accolades, including becoming a New York Times bestseller, a New York Times Notable Book, a Washington Post Top 10 Best Book of 2020, an NPR Best Book of 2020, a Slate Best Book of 2020, a USA Today Best Book of 2020, and an Amazon Best Book of 2020.

The Wilton Reads program will culminate with an author visit by Natasha Trethewey on April 15 at 6 p.m. using a virtual platform. The author will be recognized with a Grodin Family Fine Writers award during her virtual talk. Elissa and Charles Grodin have been sponsoring the Grodin Family Fine Writers Awards for the library's Wilton Reads programs.

Free copies of "Memorial Drive" will be given away in March by the library thanks to Fairfield County Bank. The giveaway date will be announced shortly. Books and audiobooks can
be borrowed through the library’s catalog and can be picked up at the library's drive-thru window when available; e-books and e-audiobooks can be downloaded to mobile devices through the Libby/Overdrive app. People may email techref@wiltonlibrary.org for help with this Digital Library service.

Details of the library’s Wilton Reads 2021 programming will be on the library’s website in February. The school district’s programming details may also be found on its website next month.

This is the fifteenth season of Wilton Reads.