JANUARY 2026 NEWSLETTER
The January 2026 newsletter of Let’s Move in Libraries includes:
- A celebration of the I Partner with My Public Library Awardees
- How to get money for community-based projects at your library
- A call for participation in a short survey on coalitions and public libraries
- A recap of StoryWalk Week 2025
- A call for participation in a short survey on SilverSneakers® and public libraries
- How and why to join our monthly Birds of a Feather online conversation
Our featured photos this month continues the celebration of the 2025 I Partner with My Public Library Awards. Among this year’s 10 winners is Mackenzie Health, nominated by Vaughan Public Libraries, Ontario, Canada. This unique partnership centers around a library branch in a hospital. The 4,000 sq ft Vaughan Public Library (VPL) branch in the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital is both a community library and a therapeutic, restorative space for patients and families — extending library reach into clinical care and local neighborhoods.
In addition to ensuring that all new families learn about the library through Welcome Baby Kits that contain the child’s library card and Born to Read information, clinicians promote the library to patients in general. When possible, patients visit the library for a change of scenery and to use tailored recovery resources (cognitive care kits, dexterity games). Furthermore, a children’s author visit (Ruth Ohi) drew 90 community members to the hospital for the event, highlighting how the branch functions as a local community hub, not just a hospital amenity.
Learn more about this inspiring partnership between a healthcare system and a public library at the 2025 I Partner with My Public Library Awards webpage.
Does your library do great things with community partners? Get ready to share your story in the Fourth Annual I Partner with My Public Library Awards. The call for nominations opens June 1, 2026.
How to get money for community-based projects at your library
Since its debut in 2017, the AARP Community Challenge has invested $24.3 million in 2,100 livability projects, with a focus on meeting the needs of adults age 50 or older, in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Washington, D.C.
The 2026 AARP Community Challenge begins January 2026! Applications for our annual quick-action grant program will be due in March. The grantees will be announced in June — and the funded projects will be completed by year’s end.
Get notified when the 2026 AARP Community Challenge begins by signing up for the free AARP Livable Communities Newsletter. You can also learn more about this award and start to get your application ready by visiting the AARP Community Challenge webpage.
In addition, you can get inspired by checking out how public libraries have benefited from this grant. Every year since the program began in 2017, public libraries have received this grant. Let’s Move in Libraries has been keeping track of the awards. Learn more at this webpage.
A call for participation in a short survey on coalitions and public libraries
A recap of StoryWalk Week 2025
For the FIFTH year, Let’s Move in Libraries teamed up with the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services (ABOS) for StoryWalk Week 2025!
This year’s StoryWalk Week was held December 8-12. After sharing all of the submitted StoryWalk Stories on our social media, Let’s Move in Libraries stores all the content shared on our webpage. Take a look back at all the amazing stories shared this year.
The call for participation was open during the month of November 2025, and we anticipate opening the call for participation in 2026 during November as well.
You can also scroll back through StoryWalk photos and stories shared by following ABOS and Let’s Move in Libraries on social media: ABOS on Instagram, ABOS on Facebook, Let’s Move in Libraries on Facebook & Instagram.
In addition, you can look back at submissions from StoryWalk Week 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Want to get started with a StoryWalk in your community? Check out our StoryWalk resource page to get started!
A call for participation in a short survey on SilverSneakers® and public libraries
Calling all public libraries in the United States of America. We want to hear from you! This one-page survey was designed by Let’s Move in Libraries and seeks to gather information on you interest in, engagement with, and awareness of SilverSneakers®. We estimate it will take you no more than 5 minutes to complete. Coalition survey
Start the survey here.
The survey will be open through the end of January 2026, and results will inform future collaborations between Let’s Move in Libraries and SilverSneakers.
How to join our monthly Birds of a Feather online conversations
Want to join a community of public library workers and partners interested in the topics celebrated by Let’s Move in Libraries?
Have a burning question you’d like to ask other librarians?
Join us in our monthly Birds of a Feather conversation series.
Beginning in February 2023, we host a monthly one-hour Birds of a Feather online conversation. Join us January 21, 2025 at 12 pm Eastern / 9 am Pacific for the next installment in this series of inspiring, engaging, open and lively conversations.
What is a Birds of a Feather conversation? It’s an opportunity for individuals with shared interests to gather together (birds of a feather flock together) to share resources, inspire one another, and generally build community.
These events are never recorded so that all participants can share freely. Join us!
Here are some of the resources shared during our December conversation:
Restaurant on Mars: a hands-on family food workshop at the King County Library System
Science Events supporting community organizers, including public libraries, interested in supporting science
Wunderland food education workshops
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Subscribe to the Let’s Move in Libraries newsletter for monthly editions of success stories, educational opportunities, and food for thought that will deepen the impact of HEAL (Healthy Eating & Active Living) programs and services in public libraries. Also follow the project on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter to stay up-to-date. The Let’s Move in Libraries project focuses on how public libraries create opportunities for individuals of all ages and abilities to engage in healthy activities.