Fitchburg Public Library to offer Citizenship Corner and Courses with $5,000 American Dream Literacy Grant
The Fitchburg Public Library has been selected as one of 16 public libraries nationwide to receive a $5,000 American Dream Literacy Initiative grant from the American Library Association (ALA) and Dollar General Literacy Foundation.
With the funding, library staff will create a Citizenship Corner in the library. The Citizenship Corner will be a single destination for patrons seeking information on citizenship test materials as well as adult literacy and ESL materials. Additionally, thanks to a partnership with the Literacy Volunteers of the Montachusett Area, two complete Citizenship Courses will be offered later this year. Assistance with the completion of citizenship applications will be provided to students of the courses as well, thanks to Project Citizenship, a Boston-based organization.
The Fitchburg Public Library was selected through a competitive, peer-reviewed application process. Nearly 90 public libraries applied for the 16 available grants, according to the ALA Public Programs Office. View all 16 recipients of the 2021 American Dream Literacy Grants. The American Dream Literacy Initiative strives to develop tools and resources for libraries and library staff to provide effective literacy services to adult English language learners in their communities and across the country.
Since the program’s inception, more than 200 libraries in Dollar General communities have initiated or expanded literacy services for adult English language learners. The grants allow libraries to augment their print and digital English as a second language (ESL) collections; increase computer access and training; provide job training; hold English language learning (ELL), general educational development (GED) and citizenship classes; and raise the visibility of services for immigrant populations.
The American Dream Literacy Initiative is made possible through the generous support of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.
