Newark, MD, March 11, 2024– Snow Hill Middle School (SHMS) 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 with their new project, Quiet Corners, Bright Minds: Designing Library Spaces for Neurodivergent Learners. SHMS Principal Matthew Record stated, "We are honored to receive this competitive award, which is a testament to our commitment to meeting the needs of all of our learners. We are grateful for this opportunity and eager to make a positive impact in our Snow Hill community."
As part of the grant, SHMS Library Media Specialist Beau Williams will take an online course on exceptional learners, a skill vital to library work today. SHMS will then host a conversation with families about neurodiversity and use the grant funds to transform the school’s library to have sensory items for neurodivergent learners. The school plans to purchase reading nooks, which will provide quiet spaces for students to read, work, or collect themselves. Light covers will be acquired to adjust the overly bright lighting. A LEGO® Wall and kits will be introduced, sensory kits will be made available, and beanbag and pea-pod-style seating will be provided for reading comfort.
This grant will not only provide a safe and accommodating environment for neurodivergent learners but will also foster a more inclusive and understanding community. “By creating a library space that addresses the sensory needs of students, we are taking a step towards breaking down barriers and ensuring that all students feel valued and supported in their educational journey,” Williams stated.
About American Library Association
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).
