MOUNT VERNON – The Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County has been selected as one of 200 libraries nationwide for the American Library Association’s American Rescue Plan: Humanities Grants for Libraries opportunity, an emergency relief program to assist libraries adversely affected by the pandemic.

The competitive award comes with a $10,000 grant that will help the library deliver programs and services related to culture, history, literature and other humanities subjects.

“We are so proud to be chosen for this amazing opportunity,” said library director John K. Chidester. “This grant will allow our library to better serve our patrons and plan strong, enriching humanities programming as we come out of the pandemic.”

The library plans to use American Rescue Plan grant funds to reinvigorate the library’s adult and teen humanities offerings.

From May to October, the library will present its “Ohio Writers Community Book Discussion Series.” This six-month initiative will consist of book giveaways that introduce readers to Ohio-based writers from a variety of genres: memoir, literary fiction, true-crime, personal essays, speculative fiction and poetry.

Each book giveaway will culminate in an author visit to the main library, including readings, panel discussions and Q & A sessions. The project includes collaborations with the Kenyon Review, Kenyon’s Office for Community Partnerships and the Mount Vernon Arts Consortium.

“This crucial support from NEH will enable our beloved institutions, and the dedicated people who run them, to rebuild and emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever,” said ALA president Patty Wong.

As with all library programs, the Ohio Writers Community Book Discussion series will be free and open to the public. For more information, please visit their website at knox.net, email knoxwrites1@gmail.com or call 740-392-2665, Ext. 259.