The October 2025 newsletter of Let’s Move in Libraries includes:

• The announcement of the 2025 I Partner with My Public Library Awards
• A reminder about our new ConnectWell at the Library report
• How and why to join our monthly Birds of a Feather online conversation

Our main story is the announcement of the 2025 I Partner with My Public Library Awards. Among this year’s 10 winners is Geezers in Sneakers Getting Coffee, nominated by Orono Public Library, Orono, Maine. In their nomination letter, the library noted that “One of the greatest health risks for older citizens across the nation as well as here in Maine is loneliness. Depression, decreasing mobility, and loss of interactions with others are all challenges for many older adults. Geezers in Sneakers getting coffee was initially developed by seniors to support seniors. This partnership incorporates opportunities for older adults to propose, discuss and pursue projects of benefit to others in the community. The collaborative provides an exemplar whereby a small town can provide substantial mental and physical health benefits for elders in the community with virtually no sustaining support except for meeting space and staff support, as needed, provided by the library and the efforts and contributions of seniors.”

Congratulations to Geezers in Sneakers Getting Coffee, and all ten 2025 Awardees, which include:

• Beaver Valley Outreach, nominated by The Blue Mountains Public Library, Ontario, Canada
• Boone County Parks Department, nominated by Boone County Public Library, Kentucky, USA
• Colorado State University Department of Occupational Therapy (CSU-OT), students and faculty, nominated by Poudre Libraries, Old Town Library, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
• Community Action, Inc. of Central Texas, nominated by San Marcos Public Library, Texas, USA
• Geezers in Sneakers Getting Coffee, nominated by Orono  Public Library, Maine, USA
• LivingRoom Community Art Studio, nominated by Oshawa Public Libraries, Ontario, Canada
• Mackenzie Health Network Hospital, nominated by Vaughan Public Libraries, Ontario, Canada
• Plenty! Farm & Food Bank, nominated by Jessie Peterman Memorial Library in Floyd, Virginia, USA
• The Sharing Place, nominated by Orillia Public Library, Ontario, Canada
• Valley Program for Aging Services nominated by Waynesboro Public Library, Virginia, USA

A team of 27 expert reviewers from 20 states and provinces in the USA and Canada convened during the month of September to examine 36 nominations submitted during Summer 2025 by public libraries in 20 states and provinces in the USA and Canada.

These annual awards were started in 2023 after a three-year national (U.S.) study determined that the most impactful public library initiatives require strong community partnerships with a wide range of collaborators. We’re thrilled to shine a light on library partnerships through this endeavor. 

The goal of these annual awards is two-fold: (1) to celebrate the amazing work that is only possible when public libraries collaborate with community partners, and (2) to highlight opportunities for both public libraries and potential community partners to start and extend collaborations.

On Friday, November 14, 2025 the international non-profit Let’s Move in Libraries honors these partners at the 2025 I Partner with My Public Library Awards in an Awards Ceremony. All are welcome to join us for this celebration. In addition, detailed information on the 10 Awardees will be posted to the I Partner with My Public Library webpage during the month of October. Check back for more information!

Complex community needs can only be addressed through community collaborations. It is our honor to award and celebrate the work these amazing community collaborators and their public library partners have done across all of North America.

Nominations in 2026 will open on June 1, 2026.

A reminder about our new ConnectWell® at the Library report

For the last year, Let’s Move in Libraries has collaborated with ConnectWell® to explore opportunities to use new technology to support community health in public libraries.

We’re thrilled to share the release of the ConnectWell® at the Library report, which summarizes the lessons learned from a pilot effort to host healthy eating challenges in public libraries across the United States in Spring 2025.

Twelve rural and suburban libraries from across the country participated in this cohort that deployed ConnectWell’s 5-week Balance Well Healthy Eating Challenge at their libraries. Overall we found that the Balance Well Healthy Eating Challenge developed by ConnectWell supports:

• Increasing nutrition knowledge
• Changing eating habits for the better (measured across 19 metrics)
• Continuing with new-found healthy eating practices post challenge
• Desire to participate in another ConnectWell Challenge

These results are very promising given that 70% of preventable illness is due to unhealthy lifestyle habits. Learning in community at the library using ConnectWell’s Wellness Challenge Model (Learn, Take Action, Support) shows promise that the library can be a significant community partner for improving public health related to lifestyle. The pilot demonstrated the deep learning that took place, both at the library and at home in-between sessions, by accessing ConnectWell’s digital resources. Participants took action by changing their eating habits across many factors. Adopting healthy eating practices is the start of reversing food-related illnesses (metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, obesity, diabetes) that impact the majority of Americans of all ages. Participants found support in the library community and a positive experience delivered by the challenge facilitators with ConnectWell’s comprehensive challenge materials. We look forward to your reviewing the report and learning about ConnectWell’s Challenge Model for 18 Wellness Challenges that support lifestyle change at libraries to improve health and unlock vitality. Please share the report widely with your colleagues.

Read the full report here, and please share widely!