(360) 943-5001 - Fax (360) 586-6838 - 415 Tumwater Blvd. SW - Tumwater, WA 98501
Reference & Information line: 704-INFO (360-704-4636) in Olympia area or toll-free 1-800-562-6022.
TRL Web site: http://www.trlib.org

Media Contacts: Leanne Ingle, Communications Specialist, (360) 704-4508; Susan Hanson, Communications Manager, (360) 704-4507.

For Interviews: Carrie Dye, (360) 352-0595; Marilyn Anderson, (360) 943-5948.

The American Library Association awarded a grant this April to the Olympia Timberland Library and Choice for Change Pre-College program, a local program that helps teens gain the skills they need to enter college.

Carrie Dye, youth services librarian at Olympia Timberland Library and Marilyn Anderson, program director of Choice for Change, along with Alicia Wilson, pre-college instructor at Choice for Change, and Jackie Marquardt, Olympia youth librarian, will be leading teens in in-depth book discussions. By mid-May, they will receive sets of three different titles for members of their book club. They plan to begin sessions this spring.

"This will provide our students with the small-group seminar experience, one that is unmatched by reading a book alone," stated Anderson. "For students who struggle with finding meaning and relevance within a book, collaborative thinking promotes open dialogue and questioning for deeper meaning as well as providing a common language amongst a diverse classroom of students. By having closer interaction with the local (Olympia) Timberland Library and their staff, students will begin to feel more comfortable using their facilities as a literary resource."

"Olympia library youth services staff will be facilitating book discussion meetings at the Choice for Change (C4C) facility in the Community Youth Services building and at Olympia Timberland Library," said Dye. "We’re very excited about talking about library services to C4C students."

The three books the group will discuss each involve teens facing challenges. They are The First Part Last, by Angela Johnson; Born Blue, by Han Nolan; and Stuck in Neutral, by Terry Trueman.

Choice for Change is an alternative program for youth to obtain their GED and/or develop skills needed to start college. It was created by the South Puget Sound Community College in partnership with the North Thurston School District and Community Youth Services.

The American Library Association Public Programs Office and the Young Adult Library Services Association organized the book club grant to provide young adults with the opportunity to discuss books relevant to their lives. Six grants were awarded throughout Washington. The program is supported by a grant from Oprah’s Angel Network.

Timberland Regional Library serves the information, reading and lifelong learning needs of the Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston county public at 27 community libraries and 6 cooperative library service locations. The library system is funded by local property taxes. For information on any subject, the Thurston County public can telephone Timberland’s Central Reference Service at 704-INFO (704-4636) or they can "Ask a Librarian" online at www.trlib.org. Anyone needing special accommodations to participate in a library’s program may contact the library a week in advance.

Revised 05/05/06