Big Rapids Community Library has been selected as one of 310 libraries to participate in round two of Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities, an American Library Association (ALA) initiative that provides community engagement and accessibility resources to small and rural libraries to help them better serve people with disabilities.

The competitive award comes with a $10,000 grant that will help the library provide access to library services for local assisted living facilities.

“We are so proud to be chosen for this amazing opportunity,” said Library Director Lauren Perkins. “This grant will allow our library to get to know our residents with disabilities better and improve access to library resources for patrons in local assisted living facilities.”

As part of the grant, Big Rapids Community Library staff will take an online course on how to lead conversations, a skill vital to library work today. Staff will then host a conversation with residents about how to make library services more accessible in our community and use the grant funds to host pop-up libraries with large print books, Kindle readers, Echo dots, and book club programs in select local assisted living facilities.

“The library is for everyone, and we want to make sure that includes people who have challenges accessing the physical library building. We want everyone to be aware of the many e-resources (Libby, Kanopy, Creativebug, Transparent Language Online, MeL.org) that the library offers that are available remotely without stepping foot in the library. All that you need is your library card and an internet connection.”

If you are interested in getting involved or taking part in the conversation, please contact Lauren Perkins at librarian@bigrapidslibrary.org, or visit www.bigrapidslibrary.org for more information.

Since 2014, ALA’s Libraries Transforming Communities initiative has re-imagined the role libraries play in supporting communities. Libraries of all types have utilized free dialogue and deliberation training and resources to lead community and campus forums; take part in anti-violence activities; provide a space for residents to come together and discuss challenging topics; and have productive conversations with civic leaders, library trustees and staff.

“Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities is an initiative of the American Library Association (ALA) in collaboration with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL).”