Gilford Public Library receives national grant to expand accessibility

GILFORD — The Gilford Public Library 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 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 automatic and handicap accessible doors in the first-floor vestibule.

“We are so proud to be chosen for this amazing opportunity,” said Library Director Katherine Dormody. “This grant will allow our library to better meet the needs of the community. It also will help us improve access to the building, ensuring our population feels welcome and comfortable in our space.”

As part of the grant, Gilford 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 on Saturday, May 31, at 10 a.m. about accessibility and the use of the grant funds.

For more information, visit gilfordlibrary.org. 

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.