Grants available for small-town public libraries

Small-town public libraries may receive a helping hand thanks to the generosity of a lifelong educator, the late Shirley Kreutz Bennett of Lincoln.  Each year the Kreutz Bennett Donor-Advised Fund, an affiliated fund of the Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF), accepts proposals for matching grants for public libraries in communities with populations of fewer than 3,000. Following Ms. Kreutz Bennett’s wishes, a Fund Advisory Committee composed of her nieces and nephews recommends grants in three areas: planning grants leading to accreditation; enhancement grants to improve library services and/or programs; and facilities grants for new facilities or the renovation, restoration or rehabilitation of current libraries. All grants require a certain level of matching funds and evidence that the project has broad community support.  Approximately $70,000 is available each year. Grant seekers are encouraged to review the guidelines and application procedures at www.nebcommfound.org/fund/kreutzbennett. For more information, contact Reggi Carlson, NCF Communications Director, (402) 323-7331or rcarlson@nebcommfound.org. Four public libraries in Nebraska communities received grants from the first round of funding in March.  Bridgeport Public Library was awarded $20,000 to help cover expenses involved with its expansion project into an adjacent building owned by the City. The project will double the size of the library.  The new space will be used for a children’s area, work space, circulation desk and archival storage. Morrill Public Library received $8,500 to remodel the eastern side of the library by replacing windows and repairing the interior.  The improvements will help make the building, originally constructed in 1936, more comfortable and energy-efficient.  Savings in utility costs will allow the library to redirect funds to programs and activities. Ponca Carnegie Library will be able to expand its Day Care Outreach Program, thanks to a $2,500 grant. Day care centers in the area will benefit from a library program delivered on location at their facilities. The goal of the program is to jump-start toddlers’ language skills and help preschoolers and older children retain skills they are already learning. The Tekamah Carnegie Library Foundation received $20,000 to help with its $1 million improvement project to build a new one-story addition and renovate the existing Carnegie Library, built in 1916. The addition will meet ADA standards, provide handicap accessible restrooms and install an elevator so that all levels are accessible. There are 228 libraries in Nebraska communities with populations under 3,000, which makes them eligible for a grant from the Kreutz Bennett Donor-Advised Fund.  Of those, 100 are not accredited by the Nebraska Library Commission. “Gaining accreditation is critical to our libraries.  It opens the door to other outside funding,” said Jeff Yost, NCF President and CEO.  “In many small towns, the library may be the only place where some people have access to the Internet.  This is certainly the case in towns where consolidation has closed the local school. Shirley’s legacy gift will help rural libraries adapt to significant changes over these next several years.  It shows that she had great vision and commitment to people in our small communities,” Yost said. “We are really excited to be helping the family of Shirley Kreutz Bennett develop a strategy to share her passion for learning, especially in places where funding continues to shrink,” said Yost.  Last year, donor-advised funds gave almost $2.6 million to charitable organizations through the Nebraska Community Foundation.

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Date:                    March 30, 2012 Contact:              Reggi Carlson Communications Director, Nebraska Community Foundation (402) 323-7331; rcarlson@nebcommfound.org