ALA Grant

Pharos-Tribune

A6 Saturday, March 22, 2025 LOCAL & STATE NEWS

Walton library receives $10,000 grant for mobility

STAFF REPORT

WALTON – The Walton & Tipton Township Public Library has received a $10,000 Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities grant that will be used to purchase equipment to support individuals with mobility issues.

This is the second LTC grant the library has received. The first grant funded the new library sensory room for people with autism. The room recently opened.

The Walton & Tipton Township Public Library was one of 300 libraries nationwide to receive the grant from the American Library Association.

Equipment purchased by the library using the grant funds could include wheelchairs, rollators and walkers.

Funds also may be used to create a ramp from the entryway to the lower level. The purpose, said library director Kristi Hileman, is to help people have an easier way of getting around the library.

The equipment also will be available to individuals who use the Community Room for personal events like birthday parties and anniversaries.

The only requirement is that all equipment must remain on library grounds. The items will not be available for checking out or taking home.

A community meeting will be held in May to focus on how the community would like the grant to be spent, Hileman said.

Hileman is also exploring the possibility of using some of the funds to buy a golf cart that employees would be able to use to help transport patrons to and from the library.
It would be a type of book mobile for those with mobility issues, she said.

“The LTC: Accessible Small and Rural Communities grant continues to be a significantly impactful effort in ALA’s history,” said ALA President Cindy Hohl. “This growing list of libraries nationwide is making huge strides in advancing accessibility for library patrons with disabilities. We look forward to the outcomes from this third round of funding.”

WORK IS COMPLETE; SENSORY ROOM NOW OPEN AT WALTON LIBRARY Courtesy of $10,000 ALA LTC Access 2 Grant

The Walton Library, courtesy of the $10,000 ALA LTC Access 2 Grant, is transforming a room that is approximately 10×13 in the Children’s Area into a Sensory Room for individuals with autism. This room will have the blue shelving units removed with soundproof walls installed and a variety of books, toys, sensory items, and materials that can be checked out from the library added. This is a year-long project. We welcome any community input. Please call us at 574-626-2234 or send an email to Paisley@walton.lib.in.us. Our next meeting will be held at 4 p.m. June 26^th. It’s open to the public.

The Walton & Tipton Township Public Library is so pleased to announce our autism awareness initiative. But we need your help in making this program a reality. What services do you need? What sensory items would you like the library to have for your children?

If you’re interested in participating in this program, please call Kristi Hileman at 574-626-2234 or send her an email at khileman@walton.lib.in.us or waltonlibrary@walton.lib.in.us

We welcome anyone who has input regarding autism and helping children and adults with autism.

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Editor: Please do not edit out ALA credit in the last paragraph.

Contact:

Kristi Hileman
Director
Walton & Tipton Township Public Library
574-626-2234
khileman@walton.lib.in.us

WALTON & TIPTON TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY

RECEIVES NATIONAL GRANT FOR SMALL AND RURAL LIBRARIES

$10,000 Grant Will Help the Library Work with Residents with Autism

WALTON — Walton & Tipton Township Public Library has been selected as one of 310 libraries to participate in round two of Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities, an American Library Association (ALA) 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 provide autistic individuals and caregivers access to support groups and sensory items.

“We are so proud to be chosen for this amazing opportunity,” said Library Director Kristi Hileman. “This grant will allow our library to get to know our autistic residents better. It will help us improve our services to ensure everyone feels welcome and comfortable in our space.”

As part of the grant, the Walton & Tipton Township 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 about autism and use the grant funds to provide sensory items for patron usage and work toward bringing a therapist to Walton who could host sessions in the Library’s Community Room for local parents and other caregivers of autistic children and adults.

“As director of the library, I have met many wonderful family members with children who have been diagnosed with autism. However, many tell me that they have to go outside the Walton community to receive help. I am hoping this grant will allow us to bring help to these families. They will be able to stay in their own community and receive assistance.”

“We also will be purchasing sensory materials, including various toys and games,” said Hileman. “I am hoping to receive community input regarding the types of materials that would be best for children with autism. I don’t pretend to be an expert in autism. I need the input from family members. After all, this grant is for the community. The library is simply a catalyst in bringing about this important offering.”

If you are interested in getting involved or taking part in the conversation, please contact Kristi Hileman at khileman@walton.lib.in.us, or visit walton.lib.in.us 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: Accessible Small and Rural Communities is an initiative of the American Library Association (ALA) in collaboration with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL).”