[PL-Directors] Start preparing: Money soon available for Oregon libraries, museums, & tribes

Mon May 10 13:57:17 PDT 2021

** Please forgive cross-postings **

Hi everyone,

Some of you may have heard that the State Library of Oregon has received $2.9 million as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)<https://www.imls.gov/news/federal-government-invests-200m-libraries-and-museums-stimulate-american-communities>. These funds are meant to support Oregon libraries, museums, & tribes in their efforts to increase digital equity and needs arising from the pandemic. We’re still working on our larger spending plan for these funds, but we want to prepare you for an upcoming opportunity: competitive grants for libraries, museums, & tribes addressing digital equity or pandemic needs in their communities. These grants can be for projects big and small, from installing a touchless water bottle filler to hiring staff to teach digital equity skills to new immigrants.

Applications are not yet open, but we want to share this information now so that you can start thinking about potential projects. The grants are to help communities respond directly and immediately to the pandemic, as well as to related economic and community needs through equitable approaches. We’ve created a list of focal areas that we are looking to support:

  *   Connectivity
  *   Digital Equity and Inclusion
  *   Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism
  *   Workforce Development
  *   Needs Arising from the Pandemic

More details on this upcoming grant opportunity are below. Please feel free to share this announcement with colleagues who work for any of the types of organizations listed under “Eligibility” below.

Grant types:
This grant process will be simpler than the State Library’s usual Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) annual competitive grant process. There will be two application levels for projects that address one or more of the five focal areas:

  *   Small grants: Between $1,000 and $20,000
  *   Large grants: Over $20,000 up to a to-be-determined maximum per organization.

Eligibility:
The following organizations are eligible to apply:

  *   Legally established public libraries and public library systems<https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/357.400>
  *   Academic libraries at public and nonprofit private colleges and universities in Oregon
  *   Federally recognized tribes in the state of Oregon
  *   Special libraries in Oregon (governments or nonprofits only), including county law libraries
  *   Oregon K-12 school libraries
  *   Oregon museums<https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/358.310> that meet certain minimum requirements<https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/viewSingleRule.action?ruleVrsnRsn=188796>
  *   Public or private nonprofits formed primarily for the purpose of providing library service to a community
  *   Networks, cooperatives, professional associations, and their subunits that serve any of the organizations listed above
  *   Organizations (governments or nonprofits only) partnering with libraries, museums, or tribes to address any of the focal areas.

Possible projects:
Allowable costs for these grants include but are not limited to project accessories & supplies, hardware & software needs, consulting or contractual services, staffing costs directly related to the project, travel & training expenses, and subscriptions or licenses that fall within the grant period.

Possible projects include but are not limited to the following. Preference will be given to projects that target high-need communities and people who are or have been marginalized/underserved. 

  *   Connectivity
     *   Lending devices/hotspots to eliminate barriers to technology
     *   Utilizing technology and software to expand virtual and in-person programming and training
     *   Acquiring equipment to enhance your building’s Wi-Fi
     *   Collaborating to provide Wi-Fi in key community spaces
     *   Establishing dedicated areas for health, legal, and other confidential virtual appointments
  *   Digital Equity and Inclusion
     *   Projects that bring services out of the building and into the community (ex: pop-up libraries, outreach vehicles)
     *   Digital literacy programs and training
     *   Digital Navigators, trained staff, and/or paid consultants to assist Oregonians with digital literacy and broadband adoption
     *   ADA workstations and/or software
  *   Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism
     *   Collaborations with community organizations that represent & serve people who are or have been marginalized/underserved
     *   Hosting social workers and/or community health workers in the library
     *   Translation services for websites, marketing materials, etc.
     *   Outreach & communications that target communities that are or have been underserved and marginalized
     *   Public facing EDI-focused community training
  *   Workforce Development
     *   Collaborations with workforce development community partners
     *   Lending devices with preloaded employment content
     *   Hosting Career Navigators in the library and/or outreach vehicles
     *   Developing workforce training spaces or workstations
     *   Public programming and training for workforce development skills
  *   Needs Arising from the Pandemic
     *   Equipment and supplies to facilitate outdoor programming (picnic tables, outdoor charging stations, Summer Reading program supplies, etc.)
     *   Replacing water fountains with touchless bottle fillers
     *   Installing lockers and/or kiosks
     *   Hiring a consultant for disaster planning
     *   Programs and services that address patrons’ pandemic needs (e.g. embedded social workers, workshops on how to apply for benefits, etc.)

Timeline:

  *   Applications open June 1, 2021
  *   Applications due by 5.00p on June 30, 2021
  *   Awards announced by July 15, 2021
  *   Projects may begin August 1, 2021
  *   Project activities must end by July 31, 2022
  *   Final report and claims for payment due August 31, 2022 

More information:
More detailed grant guidelines are forthcoming very soon. There will also be information sessions when you’ll have an opportunity to ask questions. Information on the grants will be posted on our Oregon LSTA grants guide<https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/lstagrants> when we release more details.

In the meantime, please feel free to contact us if you have any specific questions now. You can contact Federal Programs and Grants Consultant Tamara Ottum at tamara.ottum at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:tamara.ottum at slo.oregon.gov> or 971-375-3543. You may also reach me at buzzy.nielsen at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:buzzy.nielsen at slo.oregon.gov> or 971-375-3486.

Cheers!

Buzzy Nielsen, MPP, MSI (he/him/his)
Program Manager, Library Support & Development Services
State Library of Oregon
bnielsen at slo.oregon.gov | 971-375-3486
www.oregon.gov/library/libraries<https://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries>
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