Let’s Talk About It: Love & Forgiveness

The American Library Association and the Fetzer Institute, as part of its Campaign for Love & Forgiveness, present “Let’s Talk About It: Love & Forgiveness,” a scholar-led reading and discussion program for libraries interested in exploring themes of love and forgiveness in everyday life through classic and contemporary literature. Public libraries are invited to apply for grants to support the program in their community.

• A grant of $2,500 to be used to support program costs and scholar honoraria.

• Program materials, which include introductory literature and essays on each of the themes, selections for additional reading, and template promotional materials.

• Training for the library project director at a national training workshop where they will hear from project scholars, experts, and organizers, and receive a program planning guide, materials and ideas.

See the list of selected libraries.

Program Timeline

• Application Deadline: July 15, 2008
• Grant Award Notification: August 30, 2008

• Group I Project Director Training Workshop: October 3–4, 2008
• Reading & Discussion Programs in Libraries: January–June 2009
• Final Reports Due: July 31, 2009

• Group II Project Director Training Workshop: January 21–22, 2009
• Reading & Discussion Programs in Libraries: March 2009–August 2009
• Final Reports Due: October 31, 2009

Final Report Forms

• July 31, 2009 Reporting Deadline Form (Word)
• October 31, 2009 Reporting Deadline Form (Word)

Themes and Book Selections

Love and Forgiveness in the Presence of the Enemy
Scenes from The Iliad by Homer
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Embers by Sandor Marai
The Guardians by Ana Castillo
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

Love and Forgiveness in the Light of Death
Paula by Isabel Allende
Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee
Jazz by Toni Morrison
The Death of Ivan Illych by Leo Tolstoy
The Dead by James Joyce

Love, Forgiveness, and Wisdom
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
A Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare
The Essential Rumi (poems), translated by Coleman Barks
Atonement by Ian McEwan

“Let’s Talk About It: Love & Forgiveness” is generously supported by The Fetzer Institute’s Campaign for Love & Forgivenesss. The Fetzer Institute’s mission, to foster awareness of the power of love and forgiveness in the emerging global community, rests on its conviction that efforts to address the critical issues facing the world must go beyond political, social and economic strategies to their psychological and spiritual roots. The Institute works with global leaders, organizations and individuals to bring the power of love and forgiveness to the center of individual, community and organizational life. For information, visit the Campaign for Love & Forgiveness, www.loveandforgive.org.

This page brought to you by the American Library Association’s Public Programs Office.

Press Releases

• ALA and Fetzer Institute award 50 program grants for “Let’s Talk About It: Love & Forgiveness” (9/23/08)
• Grants available for “Let’s Talk About It: Love & Forgiveness” (2/12/08)
• ALA Public Programs Office receives funding from The John E. Fetzer Institute, Inc. (11/6/07)

• Let’s Talk About It: Love & Forgiveness guidelines and application (color PDF) (black and white PDF) (Word)

• Let’s Talk About It: Love & Forgiveness selected libraries
• Let’s Talk About It: Love & Forgiveness site support notebook