1000 Black Girl Books Book Clubs to Create Community Relationships

May 17, 2022

3:30pm - 4:30pm

The Martin County Library System was able to launch its first 1000 Black Girl Books Book Club in 2021 to build community relationships through outreach and awareness with a local afterschool program. We are now working with three additional afterschool programs who help underserved youth, including Boys and Girls Club, to encourage tween girls to read books with black female leading characters.

Created by Marley Dias in 2015 when she was 10 years old, the #1000BlackGirlBooks drive went viral! Sponsored by The Library Foundation of Martin County, Inc., the Martin County Library System is proudly partnering with youth organizations to facilitate book discussions that include free copies of the books, introspective crafts, as well as special guest speakers. In addition, each book club ends with the gift of a little 1000 Black Girl Books library for all ages to continue the love for reading and the support for exploring diversity, equity, and inclusion at their local community afterschool center.

Presented by: Darlene Encomio is the Literacy Education & Outreach Manager for the Martin County Library System. She received her MLIS at USF and has been a Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute mentor twice. Darlene has presented at YALSA, Tampa Bay Library Consortium, SEFLIN, Florida State Division of Library and Information Services, and will present at the 2022 ALA conference in Washington DC.