ALA awards $3.5 million in library accessibility funding to 300 small and rural libraries in the fourth and final round of the grant initiative

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the fourth and final round of recipients of its Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Accessible Small and Rural Communities grant, an initiative to help small and rural libraries increase the accessibility of facilities, services and programs to better serve people with disabilities.

The 300 funded proposals represent 46 U.S. states and the Northern Mariana Islands. Of the selected libraries, 73 percent serve communities with populations of 5,000 or fewer. 126 of the libraries also received funding in previous rounds of the grant initiative, bringing the total number of LTC: Accessible Small and Rural Communities grantees to 836. 16 libraries received funding in all four rounds of the initiative.

See the full list of libraries.

Fifty libraries will receive grants of $20,000, and 250 libraries will receive grants of $10,000. In accordance with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) definitions, eligibility was limited to communities with populations of less than 25,000 located at least five miles from an urbanized area.

“The outcomes of LTC: Access will not only impact communities but also the library workers who wrote the grant, plan community conversations and implement their projects,” said ALA President Sam Helmick. “This initiative has been a catalyst for ongoing disability access. It will continue to teach nearly 900 library workers the fundamentals of accessibility and guiding improvements to their library’s services across the board and will continue to do so for years to come.”

Selected libraries have identified a primary audience they wish to serve (e.g., people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities or intellectual disabilities). Library staff will conduct community input-gathering sessions with the identified primary audience to discuss accessibility in the community and library to collaboratively identify existing resources, needs/gaps and priorities. The libraries will then use the funds to create services or improve their facilities, services or program offerings based on the needs identified by their audience.

Previously funded LTC projects have included installing chair lifts and hearing loops, hosting arts and crafts programs for community members living with Alzheimer’s and memory loss, creating accessible outdoor spaces like community gardens and playgrounds and mental health programs for high school students.

Below is a selection of funded proposals:

• Morgan (Utah) High School teaches 14 students with disabilities who do not have access to the school library due to a lack of quiet space, automatic doors, comfortable seating and assistive technology. The library remains one area of the school that lacks the infrastructure necessary to facilitate important peer-to-peer interactions. As a first-time LTC grantee, the library will use $20,000 to purchase book collections for all reading levels, an automatic door, new lighting and paint to create a calming space with a sensory wall and adaptive furniture.
• Having received all four rounds of LTC: Access funding, Cambridge Springs (Penn.) Public Library has successfully achieved making the library physically accessible for patrons with disabilities by adding six automatic door openers. Now that more patrons can access the library, they will use their fourth round of grant funding to increase accessibility inside the library building with new high contrast signs, page magnifiers and assistive technology.

Since 2014, ALA has distributed LTC funding to foster community engagement skills among library workers and support need-driven projects. LTC: Accessible Small and Rural Communities is offered in partnership with the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL).

“The Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) sends our congratulations to all of the returning and first-time libraries awarded in this final round of LTC: Accessible Small and Rural Communities,” said ARSL Executive Director Kate Laughlin. “We are excited to have representation of small and rural libraries across all fifty states and the Northern Mariana Islands and look forward to seeing projects come to fruition!”

Libraries Transforming Communities is administered by the ALA Public Programs Office. To be notified of future LTC initiatives and other grant opportunities, sign up for ALA’s Programming Librarian newsletter.

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association is the largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to America’s libraries. The ALA mission is to empower and advocate for all libraries and library workers to ensure equitable access to information for all. For 150 years, ALA has provided resources for information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more information, visit www.ala.org.

About the ALA Public Programs Office

The ALA Public Programs Office empowers libraries to create vibrant hubs of learning, conversation and connection in communities of all types. Learn more at www.ala.org/ppo.

About the Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services

The ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services supports library and information science workers in creating responsible and all-inclusive spaces that serve and represent the entire community. Learn more at www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/diversity.

About the Association for Rural & Small Libraries

ARSL builds strong communities through advocacy, professional development, and elevating the impact of rural and small libraries. As the premier organization representing rural and small libraries, ARSL recognizes the uniqueness of this constituency and is committed to providing an environment that encourages service excellence within our community of practice.