In Dunkerton, Iowa, population 842, more than 15% of the population lives with some type of disability. Aging is a contributing factor for many, and issues such as decreased mobility and hearing loss are common.
Dunkerton’s size can be a hindrance to helping that population.
“Our community doesn’t have the services and activities that larger communities offer,” says Dunkerton Public Library (DPL) Director Michelle Wheeler. Thankfully, DPL is there to help, but it too needed assistance, particularly with facility upgrades to better assist patrons with mobility issues, hearing impairment, and vision problems.
“Chairs in our community room and library were difficult for someone with decreased mobility to get in and out of, to move up to and away from a table, and painful to sit in for any length of time,” says Wheeler. “We were aware of the difficulty our lighting in the library and community room caused for those with loss of vision,” she adds, which made it challenging for some to participate in classes and activities. Additionally, those who experience hearing loss expressed to staff that it was hard for them to understand content during presentations.
With its community in mind, DPL applied for—and received—a Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Accessible Small and Rural Communities grant from the American Library Association to help make upgrades.
“[The LTC] grant was a perfect opportunity to help alleviate the aforementioned barriers to our patrons,” Wheeler shares. With the $20,000 in LTC grant funding it received in 2024, the library was able to make some long-overdue changes.
“Improved lighting was a priority to help those with vision loss, so [we] converted to LED lighting and added can lighting and flat panel lights,” Wheeler says. “Next, an 85-inch television and wireless microphone system were purchased to help those with vision loss as well as those with impaired hearing.”
Finally, new chairs and a height-adjustable mobile table were selected to meet the needs of patrons with diminished mobility. The remaining funds were spent on large-print books.
Wheeler says that community conversations and support from patrons, the city’s mayor and city council, and the Dunkerton Historical Association were instrumental to helping library staff identify which barriers needed to be addressed and to gain a better perspective on community needs. Together with the LTC grant funding, they were able to create a library space for everyone.
“This initiative removed barriers for our aging community who experience age- and health-related disabilities,” Wheeler says. “Those community members can now more fully utilize and enjoy the library’s services and programs, ultimately combatting an epidemic of isolation and loneliness.”
ALA’s LTC grants offer more than $7 million to small and rural libraries to increase the accessibility of facilities, services and programs to better serve people with disabilities. DPL is one of 240 libraries that have received funding. Of the selected libraries, 65% serve communities of less than 5,000 people. See the full list of libraries.
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Feature image: Dunkerton Public Library, via Facebook.
