NORTH MANCHETER PUBLIC LIBRARY RECEIVES NATIONAL GRANT FOR SMALL AND RURAL LIBRARIES

$10,000 Grant Will Help the Library Work with Residents with Invisible Disabilities 

North Manchester— The North Manchester Public Library (NMPL) has been selected as one of 300 libraries to participate in round three 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.
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The competitive award comes with a $10,000 grant that will help the library install indoor and outdoor sensory friendly zones for juvenile patrons.

“We’re excited to create spaces catering to the needs of children with invisible disabilities like Sensory Processing Disorder and Autism. Our library is a busy hub of activity and it can be overwhelming at times,” shares Sarah Morbitzer, Children’s Department Manager.  “We’ve been dreaming for years about creating a retreat space for kids who need to find their calm.  Thanks to the ALA grant, we will finally be able to make those dreams a reality!”

As part of the grant, NMPL 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 the proposed improvements and use the grant funds to install an outdoor music park, turn a Children’s Department nook into a sensory retreat complete with a Mobile Sensory Station, and take three years of KultureCity’s Sensory Inclusive training and certification.  

“We have an idea of what will benefit our community,” said Molly Magnus, Programming Coordinator.  “However, the ALA grant gives us the freedom to change direction.  As we host community conversations, we plan to talk with kids and caregivers in our community to find out what they are looking for at the library.  We want to take that feedback and fine-tune our plan to become as beneficial as possible.”

“We are so proud to be chosen for this amazing opportunity,” said Library Director Andrea Zwiebel. “This grant will allow our library to get to know our residents with disabilities better. It will help us improve our services to ensure this population feels welcome and comfortable in our space.  We love meeting our young patrons where they are.  Their unique personalities and interests bring so much joy and creativity to the library!”

“We’ve observed how challenging emotions can be for young patrons,” reports Jeanna Hann, Adult Department Manager.  “Families can feel embarrassed by outbursts or worry that they are disturbing the library.  We want everyone to know that the library is here for the chaotic moments as well as the calm ones.  We hope that the addition of these sensory zones will not only provide practical tools for families in those tough moments, but also underscore our message of always being here to serve the community!”

The Library wishes to thank Wabash County Diversity Coalition, Manchester Alive, Daniel’s Place, and Nancy Johnston of Manchester Community Schools for signing letters of support during the grant process. 

If you are interested in getting involved or taking part in the conversation, please contact Sarah Morbitzer at [email protected] 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 mission of the North Manchester Public Library is to provide materials, programs, and services necessary to meet the recreational and educational needs of the community in a comfortable and easily-accessible facility, which is a community center of activity and information. For more information, visit www.nman.lib.in.us”