$58,983 in Library Improvement Grants Awarded to Nebraska Public and Institutional Libraries

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 4, 2016 FOR MORE INFORMATION: Richard Miller 402 471 3175 800 307 2665 $58,983 in Library Improvement Grants Awarded to Nebraska Public and Institutional Libraries The Nebraska Library Commission recently awarded Library Improvement Grants for 2016 totaling $58,983 to thirteen Nebraska public libraries, and a state-run institutional library. These competitive grants were funded with federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) monies from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). These Library Improvement Grants help to facilitate growth and development of library programs and services by supplementing local funding with federal funds designated for these purposes. In order to be funded, projects had to meet one or more of the following LSTA Purposes listed in the Commission’s long-range plan: • Facilitate access to resources . . . for the purpose of cultivating an educated and informed citizenry; • Encourage resource sharing among . . . libraries for the purpose of achieving economical and efficient delivery of library services to the public; • Promote literacy, education, and lifelong learning and to enhance and expand the services and resources provided by libraries, including those services and resources relating to workforce development, 21st century skills, and digital literacy skills; • Ensure the preservation of knowledge and library collections in all formats and to enable libraries to serve their communities during disasters; • Promote library services that provide users with access to information through national, state, local, regional, and international collaborations and networks. Local libraries also had to provide at least a 25% match in order to receive the funds. The libraries receiving grants are: • Axtell Public Library • Beaver City Public Library • Blue Hill Public Library • Brunswick Public Library • Fairbury Public Library • Franklin Public Library • Fullerton Public Library • Lincoln City Libraries • McCook Public Library • Norfolk Regional Center Patient Library • North Bend Public Library • Plainview Public Library • Springfield Memorial Library • Yutan Public Library The projects and services planned include: outdoor movie nights, AWE work stations (the last year of funding allowed for this purpose), iPod Touches, mobile Maker Spaces, computer classes, author visits, digitizing of historical photos, iPads, as well as three libraries either joining the Pioneer Consortium or initiating processes in order to join the consortium in the future. As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, “bringing together people and information.” ### The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission Website, http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.