Small Upgrades, Big Impact: How Our Library Grant Created a More Inclusive, Tech-Friendly Space

At Aurora University Library, we are always looking for meaningful ways to enhance the services we provide to our students, staff, and the wider campus community. When the opportunity arose to apply for a library grant, we knew exactly what we wanted to do: invest in tools and resources that would immediately benefit our users while laying the foundation for even greater access and inclusivity. 

This project started as a modest project proposal and has become a mighty transformation, greatly impacting how our patrons interact with the library and what they are able to accomplish at the library.  

Meeting the Moment: Why Now? 

Like many academic libraries, we are seeing an increase in demand for multilingual resources, equitable access to technology, and support tools that reflect a variety of learning styles and student and staff needs. 

We designed this project around three key goals: 

• Improve staff efficiency and service quality
• Expand access to bilingual resources
• Support students with flexible, mobile-friendly technology 

These goals are more than just good ideas, they are essential. As student needs evolve, so must our library. 

What We Did With the Grant 

Here is how the grant funding was used: 

• Staff-Only Scanner from ScannX: Streamlines scanning and processing, allows staff to assist patrons faster and more effectively.
• Student Technology Items: Portable laptop chargers, power adapters, a portable DVD player, an OCR digital highlighter, and a carrying case were all added to our inventory of borrowable items, making studying more flexible and accessible.
• Spanish Language Books: A carefully curated selection of titles was added to our collection to better serve our bilingual and Spanish-speaking community. 

Engaging Our Community 

To showcase these additions, we hosted: 

• A month-long display of our Spanish language collection during Latin Heritage Month (September 2024)
• Technology pop-up events throughout the semester (on 9/24, 10/07, and 11/12), allowing students to test and explore the new tools 

Attendance varied, but the informal walk-up format allowed for organic engagement and meaningful conversations with students about what they need most from their library. 

What Other Libraries Should Know 

Thinking of doing something similar? Here are a few lessons we learned: 

• Start with user needs. We listened to staff and student feedback before making any purchases.
• Small tools = big returns. You don’t need a massive budget to make a noticeable impact.
• Stay flexible. Pop-up events and informal outreach helped us meet students where they are. 

Looking Ahead 

This grant project not only improved current services but also opened our eyes to future possibilities. We're now exploring additional ideas, such as expanding multilingual offerings, adding assistive technologies, and even mobile library services. 

Ultimately, this project reminded us of one core truth: when libraries invest in access and equity, everyone wins. 

This week’s blog post was written by Mariah Tennell, Systems Librarian, Aurora University Library.  

This project was made possible by the My Library Is... Grant.