The Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Perkinston Campus Learning Resources Center (LRC) has been selected as one of 300 libraries nationwide to participate in the fourth and final round of Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities, an initiative of the American Library Association designed to help small and rural libraries better serve individuals with disabilities.

As part of the competitive selection process, the Perkinston Campus LRC received a $10,000 grant that will support efforts to enhance accessibility services and resources for MGCCC students. The grant project will be implemented during Fall 2026.

The initiative will focus on expanding access to assistive technology for students with disabilities while also launching a speaker series centered on accessibility, student success and support services. The LRC will partner with The University of Southern Mississippi Institute for Disability Studies and the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services to provide programming on academic success, workforce readiness, mental health, and life skills for students with disabilities.

Faculty and staff development opportunities will also be included through sessions focused on best practices for supporting and educating students with disabilities.

“We are so proud to be chosen for this amazing opportunity,” said Laura Savage, Perkinston Campus Librarian. “This grant will allow the LRC to get to know our residents with disabilities better. It will help us improve our services to ensure this population feels welcome and comfortable in our space.”

Savage said the grant aligns with the LRC’s mission of ensuring every student has access to the tools and support needed for success.

“We are excited to be given this opportunity from the American Library Association to better serve our students by making the library a place that every student feels welcome and can find anything they need to be successful,” Savage said.

Grant funding will help address several identified needs on campus, including limited access to assistive technology, increased demand for laptops due to online coursework, and greater awareness of disability support resources available to students. Planned purchases include dedicated laptops equipped with assistive software as well as accessibility-related training opportunities for employees who work closely with special populations.

Since 2014, the American Library Association’s Libraries Transforming Communities initiative has helped libraries nationwide strengthen community engagement efforts and create more inclusive environments through dialogue, programming and accessibility-focused projects.

Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities is an initiative of the American Library Association in collaboration with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries.

Through the grant, MGCCC hopes to further its commitment to creating welcoming and accessible learning environments while providing new resources and support services for students, employees and the broader community.