Connecticut State Library Launches 3rd Annual All CT Reads for 2024

All CT Reads is a year-long initiative to promote lifelong reading, learning, and connection that uses a rotating community committee structure to select one main book title and three shortlist book titles, each calendar year for three age groups: kids (ages 8-12), teens (ages 13-18), and adults.

In addition to the books, All CT Reads provides a supported programmatic structure for CT libraries built around the titles with room for individuality and creativity, according to State Library officials.

Why All CT Reads? State Library leaders describe it this way:

“We want a way to read together. We want continuous conversations across Connecticut. We want to offer avenues of participation for spaces big and small to talk about inclusivity, cultures, acceptance, ‘Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors.’ We want adventure, mystery, and relationships, too. We wanted a line-up of books that looks just like this one.”

The 2024 All CT Reads primary titles are: 

·         Finally Seen by Kelly Yang – Kids

·         Promise Boys by Nick Brooks – Teens

·         Don’t Cry For Me by Daniel Black – Adults

To launch this initiative, join the All CT Reads 2024 team for the Virtual Author Launch with the authors of this year’s primary selections on Friday, January 19 from 11 am-12:30 pm. Each author will discuss their work and answer questions from the CT community. Registration is available here. 

“All CT Reads is the CT State Library’s statewide reading program inviting all CT communities to participate,” said Dawn La Valle, Director of the Division of Library Development. “Together with our partners, we are sharing an opportunity for libraries, book discussions groups, school classes, and neighbors to engage in All CT Reads.” 

Partnerships and library staff from across the state make this program successful. All CT Reads is an initiative of the Connecticut State Library Division of Library Development and partners with the Connecticut Library Consortium (CLC) and the Connecticut Association for School Librarians (CASL). All CT Reads has three selection committees, one for each age group with rotating members from the greater CT library, education, and reading community. 

All CT Reads is supported by a generous grant from EBSCO Information Services to the Connecticut Heritage Foundation. EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) is the preeminent provider of online research content and search technologies serving academic, school, and public libraries; healthcare and medical institutions; corporations; and government agencies around the world. The mission of the Connecticut Heritage Foundation is to support the programs and purposes of the Connecticut State Library and Museum of Connecticut History. 

Learn more about All CT Reads:  http://bit.ly/AllCTReads.  

The Connecticut State Library is an Executive Branch agency of the State of Connecticut. The State Library provides a variety of library information, archival, public records, museum, and administrative services to citizens of Connecticut, as well as the employees and officials of all three branches of State government. The Connecticut State Archives and the Museum of Connecticut History are components of the State Library as is the Division of Library Development.