Special to IFN

The Iredell County Public Library will now have an in-house Community Navigator program at the Statesville branch. This role is designed to strengthen the library’s connection to the community by helping residents access essential resources and services.

Community Navigators will work directly with individuals to remove barriers to service, offering whole-person care and guidance so patrons can make informed decisions about their situations. Key responsibilities of the role include:

♦ Connecting community members with local agencies, programs, and support services;
♦ Providing referrals and assistance for housing, healthcare, recovery, employment, and more;
♦ Holding scheduled appointments to assist the public in need of support; and
♦ Collaborating with library staff to build and maintain a comprehensive resource toolbox for public use.

The goal of the Community Navigator program is to serve as a single point of contact for vital services, ensuring that residents can quickly and effectively locate the resources they need — particularly those that are scarce or difficult to find.

Dawn Church, a library program specialist at Iredell County Public Library and social work student, will fill the Community Navigator role through December 2025. Starting in January 2026, the library will partner with Appalachian State University to host interns from their social work program to act as Community Navigators.

“We are excited to welcome Dawn to this role,” said Library Director Juli Moore. “The Community Navigator position helps fulfill our mission to not only provide information, but to empower our community with the tools and connections they need to thrive.”

The Community Navigator will hold regular hours at the library to meet with individuals and assist them in finding community resources.

LEARN MORE

For more information, contact Dawn Church at kimberly.church@iredellcountync.gov or 980-759-2219. Community Navigator appointments can be scheduled online at https://iredell-lib-nc.libcal.com/appointments?lid=9859&g=27629.