Rib Lake Library to use grant funds for accessibility

Rib Lake Public Library was 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 $20,000 grant that will help the library improve access to residents living with mobility challenges.

“We are so proud to be chosen for this amazing opportunity,” said Library Director Tammie Blomberg. “This grant is allowing our library to get to know our residents with disabilities better. It is helping us improve our services to ensure this population feels welcome and comfortable in our space.”

As part of the grant, one of the staff took an online course in how to lead conversations, a skill vital to library work today. The library then hosted a conversation with residents about mobility challenges to learn what would be the best ways to use our grant to help the community.

During our conversation we heard that patrons want to be able to enter the library with ease. When a door looks challenging or doesn’t open easily it can discourage a person with mobility challenges from trying or coming back. Libraries need to be a place that everyone can access with ease.

Because of community input the library is using the grant funds to replace the front door with a new mobility access door and button. They also added a rolling walker, carts for browsing, and a new van accessible parking space and sign.

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).”