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Murrieta librarians expand 'Library for All' services for adults and teens with disabilities
Summary
Library supervising librarian Agnes (last name not provided) described a program serving adults and older teens with disabilities that has grown since 2018 with local donations and state grant funding and now operates weekly activities and outreach.
Murrieta — The Library Advisory Commission heard an overview Feb. 10 of the library’s “Library for All” (LFA) program, which offers social, educational and recreational programming tailored to adults and older teens with disabilities.
Agnes (surname not provided), supervising librarian, told commissioners LFA began as a small pilot in 2017 and has since grown with community donations and grants. She said initial seed funding of about $500 from local groups helped start the effort; since 2018 the Friends of the Murrieta Library have contributed roughly $10,000 and the library has received combined Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and Institute of Museum and Library Services grants totaling about $28,600 to support growth.
Agnes described regular programming and partnerships: facility tours, summer walking tours to municipal facilities, weekly Thursday “hangout” sessions at 10 a.m., bingo, line dancing, art activities and paid presenters. She said participating groups include vocational and day-program providers and local school-district programs; participant ages range from teenagers into their 70s, with a typical participant age in the 30–40 range.
A vocational-group representative and program participants described the program as social, therapeutic and skills-building. One speaker said, “We come we come we come I\'ve come from years. Yes. I just love the library with my parents,” underscoring the program’s local reach and regular attendance. Agnes said the program has been featured by the California State Library and presented at national library conferences.
Agnes and staff also noted other grant-backed services: the library has received public-library digital-literacy grant funding and plans to apply for an ebooks-for-all grant (staff stated a $20,000 request with a $5,000 city match is planned). The library also was awarded a ZipBooks grant (patron-driven collection purchases) of about $31,000 and a Public Library Association digital-literacy grant for $10,000 to buy a smart board and run classes.
Why it matters: staff said LFA provides a consistent, welcoming program that helps participants develop social skills, vocational readiness and community connections and that grant funding has expanded reach and resources.
Next steps: staff said they will continue partnerships with local vocational groups, pursue additional grants and incorporate programming space in the planned children’s area expansion to broaden services across age groups.
