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Safe Haven: New Mexico Library Transforms Community with Accessibility in Mind

Bill Furbee on April 15, 2026

Belén (N.M.) Public Library was awarded two rounds of grant funding via ALA’s Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities initiative. Those dollars have helped the library reach its goal of becoming a safe place for everyone—including those with mobility disabilities, low vision or blindness, hearing loss, and those who are neurodivergent.

A Boon for Small and Rural Libraries

Chase Ollis on March 5, 2024

Millions of dollars are heading to libraries in small and rural communities across the country, thanks to a major grant initiative from the American Library Association (ALA). On March 4, ALA announced it would be distributing $3.6 million to 310 libraries across 45 U.S. states to help increase the accessibility of their facilities, services, and programs for people with disabilities.