The Chillicothe & Ross County Public Library has been selected as one of 300 libraries to participate in the third round of Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities (LTC), 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 identify and implement a project to improve library accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

“This gives the library an opportunity to improve facilities and further promote our goal of making sure the library really is for everybody,” said James Hill, the library’s executive director. “We depend on input from the community and our partners to help us explore the best use for this round of funding.”

In 2024, the library used funding from the LTC initiative to install accessible doors and a universal changing table at the Main Library Annex, where events, meetings, and public programs are often held. A matching changing table was donated by the Ross County Board of Developmental Disabilities, making both the men’s and women’s restrooms on the north end of the Annex more accessible.

CRCPL once again invites individuals with disabilities, as well as their friends, family, and caregivers, to attend a community conversation on Wednesday, July 30th at 11:30 am at the Northside Library. Participants will be able to share feedback and discuss ideas for potential projects to pursue with grant funding that will improve library accessibility.

For more information about this project, please contact Communications & Marketing Manager Courtney Lewis at clewis@crcpl.org.

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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).”