The Cook Memorial Library has been selected as part of a cohort of 300 libraries participating in round three 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 grants that will help our library work with residents with disabilities on improving access to the library building.
In 2024, the Cook Memorial Library was a recipient of a round two grant from Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities. “This third round of funding in 2025 will help us continue what we started in the second round,” reports Library Director Mary Cronin. In Tamworth, the $20,000 award will go towards replacing the lift that provides access to the library’s lower level community meeting space and local history room. A new lift was identified as a top priority for improving accessibility at the library at the library’s 2024 round two community conversation.
We are seeking suggestions and feedback from people in Tamworth who have physical disabilities on ways to improve accessibility at the library. Contact Mary Cronin at 603-323-8510 or in person at the library to ask questions, or to share your comments and ideas.