Atlantic, Iowa — The Atlantic 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 $10,000 grant that will help the library develop ways to better serve adults and teens with developmental disabilities.

Atlantic Public Library Director Michelle Andersen says “We are so proud to be chosen again for this amazing opportunity. Last year we received $20,000 towards modernizing the elevator but, with this second round of funding, I wanted to focus on how we can better serve individuals living with disabilities. We are blessed to have so many resources in town like REM and Trivium Life Services, but the library doesn’t have the best tools to serve their clients.”

As part of the grant, Andersen will take an online course in how to lead conversations, a skill vital to library work today. She will then host a conversation with residents about ways to better serve developmentally disabled teens and adults and use the grant funds to provide new resources or programs. Michelle Andersen says “One idea is to begin an affiliation with Next Chapter Book Club. I would also like to research building a collection of high-low books for adults, books with an easy reading level yet are written to appeal to adults and not children. Some other potential services could include providing sensory experiences at the library or in a kit to checkout, installing a communication board for nonverbal people, or offering adaptive computer equipment. The beauty of this grant is that it allows us to make those specific project choices after holding the community conversation.”

The Atlantic Public Library

If you are interested in getting involved or taking part in the conversation, please contact Andersen at the library by e-mailing atlanticpubliclibrary@gmail.com or calling 712-243-5466.

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.

The Atlantic Public Library connects the community to information, resources, and each other in order to spark ideas and new connections.