Wiggin Memorial Library Wins National Grant

STRATHAM, NH — The Wiggin Memorial Library has been selected as one of 100 libraries to participate in round three of Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries, an American Library Association (ALA) initiative that helps library workers better serve small and rural communities.

The competitive award provides a $3,000 grant. The money will be used to support conversations with Stratham residents about how they can more easily access information they need to actively participate in local government.

“We are so proud and excited to be chosen for this opportunity,” said Library Director Lesley Kimball. “Here in New Hampshire, all politics is local; the people are the legislature. Officials are elected, budgets are determined, and everything from recreation to life safety is discussed and voted on by town voters. With this grant, we can build on our successful Candidates Night forums to find additional ways for people to be heard on important community issues.”

As part of the grant, Wiggin Memorial Library staff will take an online course on how to lead conversations -- a skill vital to library work today -- and then host conversations with residents about ways to improve the civic experience in Stratham. Grant funds will be used to host events, invite additional input, and create a summary of community needs, ideas, and outcomes.

Conversations will take place in early Spring 2022. If you are interested in getting involved or taking part in these conversations, please contact Lesley at wigginml@comcast.net, 603-772-4346, or visit https://library.strathamnh.gov for more information.

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.

“Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries is an initiative of the American Library Association (ALA) in collaboration with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL).”

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