On September 22, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, Massachusetts Center for the Book, and public libraries across the commonwealth are partnering on a "National Book Festival Near You" event. 

The event opens at 7 PM with a group watch party of a video created for National Book Festival that features Isabel Wilkerson, author of Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.  At the conclusion of the video, there will be a commonwealth conversation, led by former State Representative and noted historian and library advocate, Byron Rushing, and Salem State professor Roopika Risam, recent recipient of a Mass Library Association Intellectual Freedom award. 

The event is open to all and promises to be a lively and informed discussion of the diversity, equity, and inclusion issues sparked by Wilkerson's analysis. Please note that participants need not have read Caste in advance. An overview of Wilkerson's argument will be available in the materials sent to all registrants.  

A Massachusetts Library Event via Zoom in partnership with the Library of Congress and National Book Festival.  Registration required at https://bit.ly/NBF2021MassWatchParty.

More information and resources at https://libraries.state.ma.us/pages/commonwealth-watch-party.