The award: a national grant from the American Library Association

We all want the best for the whole Dam Area ;) — so I’m very proud to share that Bull Shoals Library has received a national grant to help us make our community an even greater place to live and work. 

Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries is an American Library Association (ALA) 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 explore the topic of volunteerism in our community and find ways to support the work that volunteers do. 

 As part of the grant, BSL staff will take an online course in how to lead conversations, a skill vital to library work today. Staff will then host a conversation with other local volunteer groups to build relationships and find ways to support and amplify the work of volunteers. 

I think there is a lot of room for collaboration! There is such a wide array of volunteer organizations in this area – if we pool our various ideas, resources, and knowledge, I believe we can improve our experiences as volunteers and increase our positive impact in the community. 

If you or someone you know would like to get involved, please reach out to the library at: 870-445-4265 or bullslibrary@hotmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FUNdamentalreading/