April 21, 2025 3:20 a.m.  

Roseburg Public Library has been selected as one of 300 libraries to participate in round three of Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities.

A city release said it is an initiative that provides community engagement and accessibility resources to help small and rural libraries better serve people with disabilities.

The competitive award from the American Library Association, in collaboration with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries, brings a $10,000 grant to help the library deliver services to adults with intellectual and physical disabilities.

Roseburg library staff’s goals for their yearlong project include enhancing the library’s welcoming space for conversation and learning; providing programming opportunities; evaluating and updating the materials collection; and encouraging participants to develop lasting connections with the library and staff.

Roseburg Public Library Director Kris Wiley said, “As part of the grant, I will take an online course in how to lead conversations – a skill vital to library work today. I then will host conversations with adult patrons with disabilities about why they visit the library and how the library can serve them.”

The release said Wiley has scheduled community conversations to provide input on the grant-funded project at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 3rd and at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 19th. Those interested in attending should contact Wiley at: kwiley@roseburgor.gov