SINCLAIRVILLE — The Sinclairville Free Library has been selected as one of 300 libraries to participate in Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries, an American Library Association initiative that helps library workers better serve their small and rural communities.

The competitive award comes with a $3,000 grant that will help the library engage the community in conversations to collaborate on tackling the challenge of meeting the educational needs of our children and purchasing materials to support education and literacy.

“We are so grateful to be chosen for this amazing opportunity,” said Library Manager, Beth Hadley. “This grant will allow our library to bring together the combined brain power and resources of our whole community to work together for the benefit of our children’s education during this challenging time in history.”

As part of the grant, Sinclairville Free Library staff will take an online course in how to lead conversations, a skill vital to library work today. Staff will then host a series of online conversations with residents about education and use the grant funds to purchase educational books and resources.

The pandemic has created upheaval and stress on communities, particularly concerning the education of children. Libraries, school administrators, teachers, staff, parents and children have all been affected. “More than ever, now is the time to all row in the same direction, even if we are in different boats,” Library Manager Hadley added.

If you are interested in getting involved or taking part in the conversation, please contact Beth Hadley at director@sinclairvillelibrary.org, or visit www.sinclairvillelibrary.org for more information and to register for the first conversation to be held online on Tuesday, May 11 at 7 p.m.

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.