News : VINTON PUBLIC LIBRARY RECEIVES $10k NATIONAL GRANT FOR SMALL AND RURAL LIBRARIES

Grant Will Help the Library Work with Residents with Disabilities on increasing access to library services

The Vinton Public Library has been selected as one of 240 libraries to participate in 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 increase access to library services to our patrons with intellectual disabilities.

"We are so proud to be chosen for this amazing opportunity," said Kelly Henkle. "This grant will allow our library to get to know our residents with disabilities better. It will help us improve our services to ensure this population feels welcome and comfortable in our space, and fits in wonderfully with our new season of strategic planning."

As part of the grant, Vinton Public Library staff will take an online course in how to lead conversations, a skill vital to library work today. Staff will then host a community conversation with residents about the accessibility of our library services for patrons with intellectual disabilities. The grant funds will be used to fund programs and initiatives that are born of the conversations.

If you are interested in getting involved or taking part in the conversation, please contact Kelly Henkle at 319-472-4208, or email library@vintonia.gov.

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)."