Humanities And Culture

University Libraries Receives National Grant For Small And Rural Libraries

The University of South Dakota’s University Libraries has been selected as one of 300 libraries to participate in the fourth and final round of Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities, an American Library Association initiative that provides community engagement and accessibility resources to small and rural libraries to help them better serve people with disabilities.

By USD

May 11, 2026

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Faculty or Staff

Outside of I.D. Weeks library on USD Vermillions campus. Sidewalks and trees with light posts and USD banners.

The competitive award comes with a $10,000 grant that will help the library provide furnishings and services to support students with disabilities. The goal of the initiative is to study how purposeful planning and design of physical environments can better accommodate neurodivergent students, as well as students of all abilities.

“On behalf of USD, I am grateful for the funding and the opportunity that it affords,” said Library Dean Daniel Daily. “This is an opportunity to provide library spaces designed to foster academic success among all students.”

As part of the grant, Danielle De Jager-Loftus '89, associate professor and technology/art, music, theatre librarian, will take an online course in how to lead conversations—a skill vital to library work today. She will then host a conversation with students about the library facilities and use the grant funds to provide furnishings and services in support of campus students who use the library.

"I am honored to receive this grant from the American Library Association,” said De Jager. “Promoting accessibility has been a core pillar of my work at USD for many years, and I am eager to continue our partnership with students to ensure their needs are met with meaningful, long-term solutions."

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

Host productive conversations with civic leaders such as library trustees and staff

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

If you are interested in getting involved or taking part in the conversation, please contact Danielle De Jager-Loftus at [email protected] for more information.

A logo that reads "ALA" in red on the left hand side and "American Library Association" in blue on the right hand side. A blue and green graphic tree stands on top of the acronym "ARSL" which is also in blue. Below it are the words "The Association for Rural & Small Libraries" in green. A maroon and blue logo that says "Libraries Transforming Communities" with the words "Accessible Small and Rural Communities" beneath it.