Ridgefield Library's Next Chapter Book Club for adults and older adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Book discussion groups are a much-loved, traditional component of the Ridgefield Library’s outreach to the community.  The Next Chapter Book Club (NCBC) is a weekly Library book discussion group for adults and older adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities, currently meeting in Zoom every Monday from 6:30-7:30pm.  

The NCBC is a national non-profit organization whose mission is “to provide meaningful opportunities for lifelong-learning, social connections and authentic community inclusion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through…community-based book club meetings that include readers of all skill levels.”  NCBC’s weekly meetings are led by trained facilitators and are open to non-readers, non-verbal, emerging readers, and fluent/avid readers.  All are welcome and encouraged to participate at their comfort level.  The club allows members to socialize while being exposed to a variety of resources the Library has to offer.  

Books are provided free by the Library, made possible by a grant from the Ridgefield Thrift Shop.  Ridgefield Library is one of the first affiliates of the NCBC in the state of Connecticut.  The Library’s primary partner in this effort is SPHERE, with additional support from Ability Beyond and Ridgefield High School Transitions program. 

The Library’s values statement expresses our commitment to being “an accessible and inclusive resource for all,” and the Next Chapter Book Club represents an important, ongoing opportunity to fulfill that mission and better serve all of Ridgefield.  

 For more information, contact Assistant Library Director Andy Forsyth at alforsyth@ridgefieldlibrary.org