Take Action for Libraries Day
Help us build the future of accessible reading. Today we invite library lovers to take action through volunteering and advocacy to help our library provide the best programs and services to Iowans. We would like to highlight two ways to support the library through two organizations we work with.
The Friends of the Iowa Library for the Blind and Print Disabled
The Friends is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to empowering Iowans through the Iowa Library for the Blind and Print Disabled. The friends provide and annual donation to the library. Our volunteers work tirelessly to ensure every reader has the tools they need to succeed.
- Add activity kits to the Youth Library and Makerspace
- Provide Kindle Fires for volunteer audio narrators to use when recording books
- Purchasing program materials for youth activities and supporting outreach activities
- Support of the Iowa Regional Braille Challenge activities
- Promote braille literacy though purchasing large print/braille books for all ages
- Fund new technologies like 3D printers
- Participating in library outreach efforts by making presentations to various groups to spread awareness to the library’s functions
Library Consumer Advisory Committee
The Library Consumer Advisory Committee is a group of library users who help shape our future.
Their input is used directly for:
- Strategic Planning: Helping the library establish priorities
- Policy Formulation: Providing feedback on new equipment and materials
- Public Awareness: Increasing our reach to underserved individuals
Volunteer Opportunities
Our energetic volunteers assist with our daily mission.
We currently have opportunities in:
- Production: Audio narration, audio editing, image description writing, and Braille transcription
- Operations: Library circulation and collection maintenance, digital audio player repair
Shout Out to our Volunteer Audio Narrators and their work in 2025:
- 685 hours volunteered by narrators
- 400 hours of audio books added to our collection
- 105 books in 8 languages; English, Spanish, Latin, German, Korean, French, Turkish, Italian and 1 children’s book written in gibberish
Keep the celebration going! Check back here daily or head over to Facebook https://tinyurl.com/29awftyt for even more National Library Week fun!
