91´«Ã½

CHICAGO — The 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) announced today that its Libraries Transforming Communities project will offer more than $7 million in grants to small and rural libraries to increase the accessibility of facilities, services and programs to better serve people with disabilities.

“Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities represents an important next step in 91´«Ã½’s commitment to serving small and rural libraries as well as emphasizing the essential connection between accessibility and our work in spreading the values of equity, diversity and inclusion,” said 91´«Ã½ President Patricia “Patty” Wong. “Made possible by a generous grant, this project will also allow 91´«Ã½ to strengthen our staff by providing accessibility training and other professional development around EDI issues. We are also grateful for the opportunity to bring on 91´«Ã½’s first accessibility officer to oversee our work on this important core value.”

This new phase of the project, funded by a private grant, will mirror previous 91´«Ã½ programs under the Libraries Transforming Communities umbrella. Previous phases have been supported by the private donor and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), with partners including the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) and the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation (NCDD).

Beginning in November, 91´«Ã½ will accept applications for grants distributed over the next three years ranging from $10,000 to $20,000. Participating libraries will first conduct community input-gathering sessions to assure that their work aligns with local needs. Libraries will be required to identify the primary audience they are hoping to reach (e.g., homebound seniors, children with autism, Deaf community members) and facilitate a community conversation with the impacted populations in order to guide improvement of the library’s services. Grantees will then use the funds to create services or improve their facilities based on the needs identified by their audience.

“With this grant, 91´«Ã½ solidifies its position as the largest non-governmental funder of library services as well as library workforce and professional development in the nation, and the second largest regranting agency to libraries outside of IMLS. Further, the focus of this work asserts the association’s goal of forwarding the critical issue of accessibility for library users,” said Tracie D. Hall, 91´«Ã½ Executive Director. “We see tremendous potential with this grant for impact on the local and national level. We have seen what happens when libraries make changes – big and small – that positively impact the ways their communities access and benefit from their services.”

Since 2014, 91´«Ã½ has distributed Libraries Transforming Communities funding to foster community engagement skills among library workers and support need-driven projects. Alta Vista (Iowa) Public Library used the funds to install an automatic door opener for the library’s front door after hearing from the community that people with limited mobility struggled to open it. Athena (Oregon) Public Library purchased a book bike to improve delivery for homebound patrons.

An open call for advisors is now open. Interested applicants will have until May 2, 2022, to submit their resume and a short letter of interest. Applicants should be members of either 91´«Ã½ or the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) and will receive a $2,000 stipend.

“The ability to respond to community needs is a critical skill for 21st-century library workers,” said Melanie Welch, interim director of 91´«Ã½’s Public Programs Office, which will oversee the grant. “We are thrilled that at the end of this process, we will have added 600 grantees to the Libraries Transforming Communities family.”

Additional information regarding Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities, Grant Advisor RFP requirements and how to apply for grants is available at /tools/librariestransform/libraries-transforming-communities/access/rfp.

About the 91´«Ã½

The 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the 91´«Ã½ has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit

About the 91´«Ã½ Public Programs Office

The 91´«Ã½ Public Programs Office empowers libraries to create vibrant hubs of learning, conversation and connection in communities of all types. Learn more at

About the Association for Rural & Small Libraries

ARSL builds strong communities through advocacy, professional development, and elevating the impact of rural and small libraries. As the premier organization representing rural and small libraries, ARSL recognizes the uniqueness of this constituency and is committed to providing an environment that encourages service excellence within our community of practice.