Maplewood Public Library wins national grant

According to a press release from Maplewood Public Library: it has been selected as one of 517 libraries to participate in Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries, an American Library Association (ALA) initiative that helps library workers better serve their small and/or rural communities.
The competitive award comes with a $3,000 grant that will help facilitate community conversations that give seniors, caregivers, Maplewood residents, and other stakeholders an opportunity to provide input on how the Library will expand its collection and services to benefit seniors, homebound residents, and those with disabilities.

As part of the grant, select Maplewood Public Library staff will take an online course in how to lead community conversations, a skill vital to library work today. Staff will then host community conversations with residents about how to best use the grant funds to expand the library’s large print collection, launch a homebound services program, and otherwise improve access for Maplewood’s vulnerable populations.

“Library staff saw a need within in the community, and we wanted to do something about it,” Library Director Ashley Bryant said. “However, we know that the input of the community will be vital and will be the guiding light behind the project. I am incredibly proud of the staff members who worked so hard on preparing the proposal, and I am thankful that the ALA has decided to grant us the opportunity to better serve the Maplewood community. I hope everyone will join us in our upcoming community conversations.”

The need for these services was amplified when the Maplewood Public Library was closed from mid-March 2020 to May 2020. During that period, electronic items accounted for 100% of the library’s circulation. On May 27, 2020, the Library reopened for curbside service only, not allowing patrons to browse the stacks. At the time, patrons were only able to place items on hold for curbside pickup by phone or through the library website.

While some of Maplewood’s senior residents adapted incredibly well to these circumstances, library staff realized they could do more to serve this population while also reaching others who aren’t actively using the library’s resources, particularly those with disabilities and those who are homebound. As the COVID-19 pandemic stretches into its second year, increasing awareness of and access to what the library offers has never been more critical.