$20,000 Grant Will Help the Library Work with Residents with Disabilities to Access Basement of Library
The Nevada 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 $20,000 grant that will help the library purchase a chairlift to the basement where the city storm shelter is located and the Friends of the Nevada Public Library host monthly book sales.
“We are so proud to be chosen for this amazing opportunity,” said Library Director Erin Coughlin. “This grant will allow us to provide basic accommodations to community members who may have mobility disabilities and make safety and security a priority during inclement weather for all community members.”
As part of the grant, Nevada 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 conversation with residents about accessibility of the library’s basement storm shelter and other accessibility areas for improvement in the library and use the grant funds for a chairlift to the basement.
According to the 2020 census, almost 25% of the city of Nevada’s population is 60 years old or older, and with a growing number of senior citizens in the community, making the basement accessible that population as well as anyone else who may need mobility assistance was a top priority for library staff.
If you are interested in getting involved or taking part in the conversation, please contact library staff at 515-382-2628, email us at npl@nevada.lib.ia.us or visit www.nevada.lib.ia.us 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).”
The Nevada Public Library provides equitable access to information and services to promote enlightened citizenship, enrich personal lives, and encourage lifelong learning to all members of the community. The Library supports the American Library Association’s “Library Bill of Rights” and the “Freedom to Read” documents.
