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

$10,000 Grant Will Help the Library better serve with patrons with dementia

The Vinton Public Library has been 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 better serve patrons in our community living with dementia.

"We are so proud to be chosen again for this amazing opportunity," said Library Director Kelly Henkle. "With our first round of funding we became affiliates of the Next Chapter Book Club. We hold weekly book clubs for individuals in our community with intellectual disabilities. This second round of funding will provide our library with an additional grant to help us continue the important work that we began with the first round. At the Vinton Public Library our mission is to provide a welcoming environment to grow and strengthen connections for everyone in our community. This grant will help us further carry out our mission."

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 conversation with residents about library services for residents with dementia and use the grant funds to better serve these individuals at the library.

If you are interested in getting involved or taking part in the conversation, please contact Kelly Henkle at khenkle@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)."