Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities 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. We are so grateful to be one of the recipients!

A selection from our application…

Our goals are to receive direct input from the neurodivergent population in Tunbridge and surrounding areas that utilize our library. We will pivot with any findings from our conversation. We hope to create a sensory friendly library with ample space for quiet and calm, opportunity for mindfulness activity and growth, help build time management skills and to offer a chance to connect with community members in a comfortable manner for all.

We have developed a preliminary plan with three major goals in mind. We have identified these goals through extensive research, conversations with our partnerships and patrons of all ages and particularly discussions with a resident studying time management skills with a focus on neurodiversity. Through these means we have tapped into these three areas of accessibility.

First we would prioritize creating quiet, accessible space with dividers, reading coves, and potential study pods.

Next, we imagine providing mindfulness programming to grow patrons abilities to gain time management skills and build resilience. We would like to offer proven mindfulness activities such as yoga and Qi-Gong that have shown to assist people who are neurodivergent in many areas. Research has proven these activities are beneficial to people who are neurodivergent.

Finally, we would like the chance to enhance physical resources such as providing assistive reading devices such as YOTO audio players and discs, purchase noise cancelling headphones and growing our graphic novel collection. In addition, we would like to create a mental health resource center to assist in the various cognitive needs. This station would include reference material, meditation cards, fidgets and other sensory material. Through casual conversation patrons have already given us multiple wonderful ideas including a sensory garden and finger labyrinths.

We look forward to a conversation confirming our thoughts or giving us opportunity to pivot from our preliminary ideas as we learn directly and intentionally from the community, particularly from those who are neurodivergent. After the conversation, with direct input from our intended audience, we would develop a plan. With our findings, in coordination with our partnerships to the school, parent child center, and the Clara Martin Health Care Center we would be able to best assist our audience.

CLICK HERE to watch a sweet video make by Tunbridge Resident,

Jen Loftus, to enhance our grant application.

What are we up to?

• Hired Home and Able Modifications Solutions to assist with design and implementation of this large scale project

• Creating 3 reading coves/study areas in addition to dealing with the acoustics in the community room

• Scheduling contractors to run series of mindfulness programs as well as educational series.

• Searching for facilitators for support group options

• Purchased Yoto players (audio book players) that are now available for check out

• Designing a mental health station and are enhancing our collection to reflect up to date titles

• Stay tuned for a calendar of events!!!!!

  We hosted a Community Conversation back in April to get input from the voices in our community. If you missed out, don’t worry! If you have an idea or something you would like to add to the conversation? CLICK HERE to fill out a form!

CLICK HERE to see the notes from our Conversation