Stanly Community College’s 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 $10,000 grant that will help the library install ADA-accessible automatic opening doors to the library in the Snyder building on the Albemarle campus.

“We are so proud to be chosen for this amazing opportunity,” said Joel Ferdon, dean of learning resources & grant management. “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.”

As part of the grant, SCC staff took an online course in how to lead conversations. On June 21, the staff will use what they learned to host a Community Conversation luncheon with area residents about physical accessibility in the SCC Library and the use of grant funds to have ADA-accessible automatic opening doors installed. The luncheon is free and open to the public.

Many faculty, staff, students and community members have voiced the need for the library entrance to be more accessible and inclusive to individuals with physical disabilities.

If you are interested in getting involved or taking part in the conversation, contact Joel Ferdon at at 704-991-0261 or jferdon0525@stanly.edu or visit www.stanly.edu/library 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).