As part of our Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Accessible Small and Rural Communities grant, the Lillie M. Evans Library has added a mural to our community garden area. The mural highlights Princeville and our history as well as our library gardens. We’ve included peonies, pumpkins, the Rock Island Trail, and other images that make our community unique. Amanda Hand from Hand Craft’d designed and painted the mural, and it is a lovely addition to our garden space. We encourage anyone to stop by and take a picture with the mural. Please tag us at #LMEmural when posting—we’d love to see your photos!
Along with the mural, grant funds added a sidewalk to our west garden, upgraded our bathrooms, added a seed library, established a pantry for garden produce, and developed an accessible community garden. Community gardens promote gentle physical fitness and mental health improvements. Our garden also enhances the beauty of our community and provides an opportunity to participate in gardening activities regardless of physical limitations.
Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Accessible Small and Rural Communities grants are an initiative from the American Library Association (ALA) that 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. Information on these and other library activities are available on the LME Library website (http://lmelibrary.org) and through our social media. Please check our pages or contact the LME Library at 385-4540 for more information.
Since 2014, ALA has distributed Libraries Transforming Communities funding to foster community engagement skills among library workers and support need-driven projects. Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities is offered in partnership with the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) with support from a private funder.