Orion Library Chosen for Founding Era Public Programming Grant

The Orion Township Public Library has been awarded a Revisiting the Founding Era Grant to implement public programming and community conversations that explore America’s founding and its enduring themes.

As part of the grant, the Orion Library will receive copies of a reader containing scholarly essays on selected historical documents from the lauded Gilder Lehrman Collection, $1,000 to help implement programs, and additional digital resources, training, and support from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and the American Library Association.

The Orion Library will be having a discussion series led by Todd Estes, Ph.D, Oakland University, and Thomas Romito, History Department Chair at Lake Orion Community Schools. Attendees can pick up a copy of Revisiting the Founding Era readings beforehand at the Adult Reference desk.

Wednesday, January 30 @ 7:00p

Declaring Independence

Wednesday, February 6 @ 7:00p

Realizing Independence

Wednesday, February 13 @ 7:00p

Creating the Constitution

Wednesday, February 27 @ 7:00p

Governing a New Nation

In addition, the winter meeting of the Teen Book Club on Saturday, February 2 at 2:00p will be reading and discussing the award-winning book The Fighting Ground by Avi as part of the Revisiting the Founding Era programs.

“We apply for grants like this because our library mission is ‘To serve and engage a thriving community of life-long learners,’ and programs exploring history have been well received by our community in the past,” said Beth Sheridan, head of adult services at the Orion Library. “Those who join us for the discussion series will become familiar with the ideas and people who founded our county during the Founding Era, which will bring up conversations about issues of concern in our community today.”

Revisiting the Founding Era is a three-year national initiative of The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, presented in partnership with the American Library Association and the National Constitution Center, with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The grant provides 100 public libraries across the country the opportunity to use historical documents to spark public conversations about the Founding Era’s enduring ideas and themes and how they continue to influence our lives today.

For more information about Revisiting the Founding Era and participating libraries, visit www.foundingera.org.

To register for the discussions please visit orionlibrary.org/calendar. The Orion Township Public Library is located at 825 Joslyn Road, Lake Orion, MI 48362 and is open 9:30a-9:00p Monday through Thursday, 9:30a-5:00p Friday and Saturday, and 1:00p-5:00p on Sundays during the school year. For more information visit orionlibrary.org.