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MPL Foundation Receives $10,000 Grant from Investors Foundation to Support Open Book / Open Mind Program

Now in its eighth year, the program features top authors speaking on the important issues of our time

MONTCLAIR, NJ (February 7, 2022) — The Montclair Public Library Foundation has received a $10,000 grant from Investors Foundation to support the Montclair Public Library’s flagship author conversation series, Open Book / Open Mind. This marks the sixth consecutive year that Investors Foundation has supported this popular literary program.

Started in 2015 by community members David Jones and Jennifer Dorr, Open Book / Open Mind features bestselling and prize-winning authors discussing their new books, both fiction and nonfiction, which often delve into the important issues of our time. Recognizing that Montclair is a vibrant cultural hub that is home to journalists, publishers, and writers, Open Book / Open Mind seeks to deepen the public’s understanding of issues like civil rights, economic justice, the environment, and education; highlight great novelists; and provide a cultural home for the Montclair literary community. Six of last year’s offerings were New York Times bestsellers, and Open Book / Open Mind guests are regularly featured in the “most notable books” lists of The New York Times and The Washington Post.

“We thank Investors Bank for this generous donation, which is but the latest demonstration of its support since the early days of our popular Open Book / Open Mind author series,” says David Jones, co-founder and co-chair of the series. “Investors’s backing has provided an important public service to our community, helping us to continue to bring outstanding authors to Montclair and beyond.”

With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the series quickly pivoted to a webcast format and has expanded its audience far beyond the physical capacity or geographic bounds of the Library’s auditorium. As a webcast, Open Book / Open Mind has drawn up to 750 attendees from 35 states outside New Jersey as well as Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, Thailand, and New Zealand. Recently, the program on January 13, 2022 featured Khalil Gibran Muhammad and Jake Silverstein, two major contributors to “The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story.” Their discussion of this landmark reframing of American history, a #1 New York Times bestseller, drew an audience of almost 500.

Other authors in the winter/spring 2022 series include New York Times correspondent Jeremy W. Peters, New Yorker staff writer Patrick Radden Keefe, Michelle Zauner who is also known as the musician Japanese Breakfast, and New York Times bestselling novelist Katherine Heiny. Visit montclairlibrary.org/obom for more information about Open Book / Open Mind.

Download a high-resolution photo
Photo Caption: (L to R) David Jones, Co-chair of Open Book / Open Mind; Kate Tuttle, Co-chair of Open Book / Open Mind; Ariel Zeitlin, Librarian and Coordinator of Open Book / Open Mind; Samantha Selody, Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager, Investors Bank; Jim T. Muller, Vice President and District Manager, Investors Bank

About the Montclair Public Library Foundation
The Montclair Public Library Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that develops philanthropic support for the Montclair Public Library. Established in 2002, the MPL Foundation raises funds for library programs, collection enhancement, staff development, special projects, and other critical needs that exceed municipal funding. The Foundation has raised over $4.5 million to support Library programs and services including technology improvements, museum passes, summer reading programs for children, and the signature Open Book / Open Mind series, which brings together high-profile authors and expert conversation partners for in-depth discussion about their work. Visit montclairplf.org for more information.

About Investors Bank
Investors Bank, headquartered in Short Hills, New Jersey, is a full-service community bank that has been serving customers since 1926. With over $27 billion in assets and a network of more than 150 retail branches, Investors Bank delivers personalized services and products tailored to the needs of its customers. Investors Bank’s services include complete deposit, loan and cash management products for consumers and businesses. Investors Bank. Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender.

About the Investors Foundation
Investors Bank created the Investors Foundation in 2005 to support the communities Investors Bank serves. Investors Foundation supports initiatives in the arts, youth development, health and human services, education and affordable housing. The Investors Foundation works to improve the lives of its neighbors and communities across the bank’s footprint. For more information, please visit https://www.myinvestorsbank.com/Community/Investors-Foundation

CONTACTS
Montclair Public Library Foundation: Mary Packer, 973-744-0500 ext. 2269, mary@montclairplf.org
Open Book / Open Mind: Ariel Zeitlin, 973-744-0500 ext. 2275, ariel.zeitlin@montclairlibrary.org

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Please note: The Library will be closed on Sunday, March 31.