Libraries

They are also spaces people turn to during difficult times—seeking understanding, information, comfort, and connection. Yet grief remains one of the least openly discussed human experiences. Many people want to support bereaved friends, family members, coworkers, and neighbors, but feel unsure of what to say or do.

Libraries are uniquely positioned to help change this.

Instead of leaving grief unspoken, libraries can help communities build the language, confidence, and care skills needed to respond with steadiness and compassion.

This is grief literacy.

Overview

The Grief Literacy Program Kit is a pre-built, ready-to-use program designed to help libraries host meaningful conversations about grief while building a lasting resource hub.

Centered on Kindred Grief Care, a community grief care guidebook, the kit includes facilitated discussion materials, printable resources, and implementation support for library staff.

Created by bereavement educator, author, and researcher Francesca Lynn Arnoldy, this program blends evidence-informed learning with practical tools that libraries can immediately put to use in public programming, staff development, and community outreach.

What Your Community will Gain

By offering this program, libraries can help staff and community members:

• Better understand both universal and individual grief experiences
• Feel more confident supporting grieving friends, family, and neighbors
• Develop language that is compassionate, clear, and grounded
• Strengthen their ability to listen without needing to “fix”
• Build connection and trust during times of loss and transition

This kind of learning doesn’t eliminate grief—it changes how supported people feel while experiencing it.

Kit Contents

The Grief Literacy Program Kit provides everything needed to host meaningful book-based discussion events and build a grief literacy resource area for ongoing public use.

It is designed for library book groups, adult programming, staff learning, and community engagement.

What’s Included:

1. A comprehensive book discussion guide, including event preparation tips, invitational language, facilitation support strategies, and reflective discussion prompts.
2. A bulk order of Kindred Grief Care guidebooks (paperbacks or eBooks).
3. Master copies of handouts: Compassionate Condolences, Practical Offerings, and Grief Visits.
4. Email support for planning and running grief literacy programming, because your success is the project’s success.
5. Optional add-on: A virtual workshop (“The Language and Listening of Loss”) with the author to deepen learning.

Kit Options

Choose the size that’s best for your community programming needs. Following training events, libraries can use paperback copies to create a “book club kit” to have in circulation.

*Need a tax-exempt payment link? Send a message through the contact form.

• Paperback orders generally take 2-4 weeks to arrive. A bonus eBook will be emailed sooner so your programming lead can begin reading and preparing.
• eBook orders are generally processed within 2-4 business days.
• Downloadable files will be emailed generally within 2-4 business days.

Optional Add-On: Live Workshop

The Language and Listening of Loss
A 60–90 minute virtual session with author Francesca Lynn Arnoldy

This interactive workshop helps event facilitators and/or library staff strengthen grief-informed communication while building confidence, clarity, and care in leading conversations about loss.

Info Sheet

PDF info sheet to print/email (for library directors, programming coordinators, or community engagement staff members):

Ready to Bring Grief Literacy to Your Library & Community?

We’d be happy to help you choose the right kit for your community, answer questions, or provide a tax-exempt payment link.