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

• A Celebration of the 2025 I Partner with My Public Library Awardees
• An inspiring story from New Brunswick
• The release of a new book on exercise for all
• How and why to join our monthly Birds of a Feather online conversation

Our main story is the celebration of the 2025 I Partner with My Public Library Awards. Last month we announced this year’s 10 winners. This month we’re sharing the website where you can go to learn more about what libraries and their partners do together across North America.

Among this year’s 10 winners is Colorado State University’s Occupational Therapy Program, nominated by Poudre Libaries, Colorado. Their partnership is our featured photo of the month.

This mutually beneficial university–library partnership in Fort Collins, Colorado (population 170,924) started in 2023. It embeds occupational therapy into the public library to deliver measurable improvements for vulnerable patrons, while also relieving library staff, and giving university students unique community-based training. The partnership has produced tangible outcomes, including jobs for patrons and fewer incidents at libraries.

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 is now available on the I Partner with My Public Library webpage. Join us in this celebration!

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.

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.

An inspiring story from New Brunswick

Our thanks to Let’s Move in Libraries Advisory Board Member and public library director Jenn Carson for sharing this with us!

At the LP Fisher Public Library, on October 1, 2025, the library tried “an hour-long ‘Parkour for Seniors’ program where we went for a walk together from the library down to the marina and back.

“It was a mix of urban and trail and beach-side walking with lots of balance, mobility, and body-weight exercises thrown in. We played ‘follow the leader’ and took turns.

“Before we got too far I taught everyone how to fall safely to prevent injuries and encouraged them to practice at home on a soft surface, like a bed. I showed them by landing on grass. We had a great time chatting, singing, and reminiscing about the sort of play that we did as children and don’t do as much anymore, like spinning, skipping, hopping, and jumping up to touch things out of reach (which we did today!).

“The three ladies that joined me all said that from now on when they went out for walks they would look at the world differently and see it as a “playground” they could use to have more fun and challenge themselves along the way. They were surprisingly nimble and unselfconscious and I can’t wait to do it again!”

Thank you so much for sharing, Jenn! Share your story to inspire others!

The release of a new book on exercise for all

Our thanks to Let’s Move in Libraries friend Katy Bowman for sharing this news!

The new book from movement expert Katy Bowman, co-authored with psychologist Diana Hill–I Know I Should Exercise, But… 44 Reasons We Don’t Move and How to Get Over Them— was released in audiobook format on October 28. A free review copy of the audio is available on NetGalley until mid-December.

“This book is brilliant, I love it.  It’s the most insightful guide to getting moving I’ve ever read.” –Kelly McGonigal, author of The Joy of Movement

Learn more about this book at Katy Bowman’s webpage.