Kewaunee Public Library Receives National Grant for Small & Rural Libraries

$3,000 Grant Will Help the Library Work with Residents to Expand Spanish Language Collection

Kewaunee Public Library has been selected as one of 300 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 rural communities.

The competitive award comes with a $3,000 grant that will help the library to meet with the Hispanic community, gain their input, highlight library services available, and then purchase materials to meet their needs.

“We are so proud to be chosen for this amazing opportunity,” said Library Director Carol Petrina. “This grant will allow our library to get to know our Hispanic residents better and help us build a more complete collection to serve their needs and the needs of our community overall.”

As part of the grant, Kewaunee 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 community conversation with residents about library services offered and the desired materials needed by the Hispanic community, and use the grant funds to acquire desired materials to meet the needs expressed.

“More literature in Spanish would attract more Spanish speakers to the library, bringing with them their children," said bilingual educator and Kewaunee resident, Aaron Sisneros. “Spending time in a library surrounded by books fosters a love for reading. EL (English Learner) students often struggle in reading, and anything we can do to encourage them to read more is imperative. If we give parents a reason to come to the library, a culture and an appreciation of literature naturally develops. Appreciation of multiculturalism makes for a more inclusive society. Adding more Spanish resources to the Kewaunee Public Library would benefit not only Spanish speakers, but the entire Kewaunee community.”

If you are interested in getting involved or taking part in the conversation, please contact the library at (920) 388-5015 or visit www.kewauneepubliclibrary.org 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: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries is an initiative of the American Library Association in collaboration with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries.