As the Education & Curriculum Materials Librarian at the David and Lorraine Cheng Library, William Paterson University, a former K-12 public school teacher, and a SC&I Ph.D. student, Neil Grimes has a deep understanding of how academic libraries can support their patrons and local communities through the implementation of new, exciting, and life-changing programs.  

One of the innovative and successful outreach programs Grimes has introduced and continues to manage at the William Paterson University library is the Real Men Read Program. In addition, Neil has been an advocate for libraries supporting mental health and wellness for the communities they serve.

Real Men Read

While the Real Men Read Program was originally launched by the Chicago Public School District in 2006, when Grimes established a Real Men Read Program in 2020 at William Paterson University, the David & Lorraine Cheng Library became the first university library in the U.S. to offer it.

“I adapted the idea and created a program at William Paterson University where male administrators, faculty, students, and staff could volunteer to read during the month of March every year as part the National Education Association (NEA) celebration of Read Across America,” Grimes said. “Readers are placed at one of the 50+ P-6 schools that are a part of our Professional Development Schools (PDS) network. There are Professors-in-Residence (PIRs) at each of our PDS schools that make the final arrangements with our volunteer readers from WP to conduct their read-aloud activities. I recruit in January and February and the readings take place throughout the month of March.”

Grimes created a LibGuide for the program, and in 2021, his paper “Real Men Read–A Library Led Reading Initiative Program,” was published in the journal College & Undergraduate Libraries.

In 2024, the program’s success was recognized by the Library of Congress when William Paterson University's Real Men Read program was named a recipient of one of the LOC’s 2024 Literacy Program Awards as an Emerging Strategies Honoree.

The program fulfills a critical social need in local communities, Grimes said, because “nine in 10 elementary teachers are women and 1/4 of children are being raised in mother-only (single parent) families.”  

In addition to establishing the program, Grimes also maintains it, and he noted that since 2020 over 100 male administrators, faculty, staff, and students at William Paterson have read to approximately 4,000 plus students in pre-school through 6th grade either virtually during the Covid-19 pandemic or in-person.

In 2024, the program’s success was recognized by the Library of Congress when William Paterson University's Real Men Read program was named a recipient of one of the LOC’s 2024 Literacy Program Awards as an Emerging Strategies Honoree.

A Champion for Libraries and Librarians in Supporting Mental Health and Wellness in Communities

Describing why it is so important that academic libraries provide mental health support, Grimes said, “Centering community wellness as part of academic libraries’ strategic planning is essential in the post-Covid era as higher education institutions seek to improve enrollment, support student retention, and encourage academic success. Academic libraries need to design wellness spaces, curate wellness collections, and offer wellness programming to better meet the needs of today's college and university students. Furthermore, all libraries should design wellness spaces, curate wellness collections, and offer wellness programming to support overall community mental health and wellness.”

Grimes’ publication, “Navigating Mental Health and Wellness in Communities: A Review of the Literature and Implications for Libraries, Librarians, and Library Workers, was
published in September in the journal The Reference Librarian, and Grimes is featured in a ProQuest -Clarivate Blog Post where he explains the ways academic librarians can support student mental health. Grimes was also a featured panelist on an International Clarivate/ProQuest Webinar “Supporting student wellbeing and resilience in a modern world.”

Grimes, who said a conversation with Professor Marie Radford at one of the New Jersey library conferences he presented at provided the support and encouragement he needed to decide to pursue a Ph.D, and said he chose the SC&I doctoral program because of its renowned faculty, cutting-edge research opportunities, and interdisciplinary approach.

 

Grimes said he chose the SC&I doctoral program because of its renowned faculty, cutting-edge research opportunities, and interdisciplinary approach.

Describing how the SC&I doctoral program is benefitting him, Grimes said, “The knowledge I'm gaining at Rutgers School of Communication and Information is profoundly shaping my academic and career trajectory,” Grimes said. “The interdisciplinary curriculum equips me with a deeper understanding of communication, library and information science, and media, allowing me to tackle complex societal issues like the digital divide in communities or how libraries can help communities navigate mental health and wellness.

“Through rigorous coursework, I am working on my ability to analyze, synthesize, and contribute original knowledge to the field of library and information science. Additionally, the mentorship from distinguished faculty and collaboration opportunities helps refine my research focus while expanding my professional network, supporting both my short-term goal of completing impactful research and my long-term aspiration of becoming a thought leader in librarianship and academia.”

Read more about Grimes in the story “Library of Congress Honors William Paterson University for Community Outreach Initiative to Promote Literacy and Reading” published by William Paterson University.

Learn more about the Ph.D. Program at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information on the website.