February 2026 newsletter

The February 2026 newsletter of Let’s Move in Libraries includes:

The continued celebration of the I Partner with My Public Library Awardees
A new report and toolkit on rural libraries supporting walking groups
How to get money for community-based projects at your library
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 Community Action, Inc. of Central Texas, nominated by San Marcos Public Library, Texas, USA. This unique and long-standing partnership centers on adult education (GED/HSE), ESL, career training, and case management at the library, so residents can access workforce and family supports in a trusted public space. The partnership has been active for approximately 25 years and leverages the library’s accessibility with Community Action’s direct services.

Here’s how it works: The library hosts Community Action’s adult education classes (GED/HSE, ESL, career training) and provides classroom space, books, and logistical support. Through this partnership, the library gains an effective referral pathway and on-site services to meet patrons’ needs beyond what the library alone can provide. It becomes a central hub for education and social services. Community Action gains visibility and daily access to people who need their programs (students walk into the library and can be connected immediately), increasing enrollment and program reach across the nine-county Rural Capital Area.

Learn more about this inspiring partnership 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.

A new report and toolkit on rural libraries supporting walking groups

Excerpt from the story of the Grant County (Oregon) Public Library’s participation in Oregon Walking Groups and Civic Projects

Earlier this year, Oregon Health & Science University’s School of Nursing released the new report, Rural Libraries and Walking Study: Oregon Walking Groups and Civic Projects.

In conjunction with the report, the team also released a new toolkit: Step It Up: Walking Group Implementation Toolkit. The toolkit covers essential steps like building community partners, selecting and mapping routes, and maintaining participant interest.

This report describes a two-year project funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research to evaluate the efficacy of working with rural public libraries to offer walking groups and civic projects that often support increased walkability in rural communities.

The report includes case studies of the 18 libraries across the U.S. State of Oregon that participated in this project, describing how rural libraries worked with community members to increase walking and to increase civic engagement.

In all 18 communities, rural librarians recruited 15-20 participants from their communities, chose local walking routes, and led participants on walks that lasted up to 45 minutes. After six months, a participant took on the leader role. Librarians recorded attendance and helped organize data collection events.

In addition to walking each week, half the libraries in the study were assigned to implement a civic engagement program called Change Club. These groups were given $5000 to spend towards a project that enhanced the walkability of their communities. Participants followed a 24-week curriculum that guided them on how to create a change objective, identify potential partners and stakeholders; map community assets; establish and carry out action steps, and monitor progress.

Learn more about this amazing project by reading Rural Libraries and Walking Study: Oregon Walking Groups and Civic Projects, and please share widely!

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 has begun! Applications for our annual quick-action grant program will be due March 4, 2026. The grantees will be announced in June — and the funded projects will be completed by year’s end.

In 2026, AARP is doubling its annual investment and will be awarding more than $8 million in community-improving grants.

Get your grants together now! This is one of the shortest grant applications out there. Apply now!

To help you get inspired, check 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 documenting how 81 AARP Community Challenge grants have supported libraries since 2017.

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 February 18, 2026 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 January conversation:

International Compost Awareness Week 2026 May 3 – 9, 2026

Composting Week Guide for Libraries and Schools

ICAW 2026 – Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition

New Literacy Microcredential Launches in Partnership with KSU, Learn4Life, and Atlanta Speech School

In the Pioneer Library System (Oklahoma) we have the GLAR (Growing Like a Read) early literacy program. Supports the development of the 6 pre-reading skills in children birth to age 5: Phonological Awareness, Letter Knowledge, Narrative Skills, Vocabulary, Print Awareness, and Print Motivation. We also provide each family with a large tote bag with resources: a stand-up book of rhymes, songs, songs, finger plays and activities, a book, link to songs and rhymes. It is in both English and Spanish. To learn more please visit our link: Growing Like a Read | Pioneer Library System

Playful Learning Landscapes

Find Extension in your state

Extensions involved with fall prevention.

Ready NOW helps library staff strengthen relationships, build community-centered services, and prepare with their communities for whatever challenges may arise.

ConnectWell has a library initiative with a Health & Wellness Database and Ready-made-Programs. You can learn more about ConnectWell through the pilot ran with Let’s Move in Libraries

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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.