Medford Schools Ushering In State's Traveling Book Exhibit

MEDFORD, MA — The libraries of the Medford Public Schools will be the first in the state to host the "Welcoming Library" traveling book exhibit. Funded by the Massachusetts Library System and created by I'mYourNeighborBooks.org, the exhibit seeks to promote a culture of belonging and welcoming for students by curating books that focus on a breadth of immigration stories and explore the commonalities of families.

The traveling exhibit is a part of this year's Middle School Library program "Libraries are for Everyone" and will be hosted by the Andrews and McGlynn libraries to start and then move to each of Medford's school libraries from the end of February to the end of April.

Students will be able to see the exhibit and use the books in the library. Teachers can bring classes to the library to enjoy the exhibit and check out a book to their classroom. Library classes will use the books in the exhibit during their library classes. While mostly picture books, the "Welcoming Library" can be enjoyed by students of all ages. Each library will supplement the exhibit with books that focus on immigrant stories from its own collection.

In the fall of 2020, the school libraries will be creating their own "Welcoming Libraries," supported in part by a grant from the Medford Educational Foundation. This grant will allow the libraries to purchase books to set up "Welcoming Libraries" in each school library.

This post was written using information from the MPS Blog.