http://www.Recovery.Nebraska.gov allows users to sign up for RSS feeds, allowing anyone interested to receive automatic updates as new information is posted to the Website. In addition, those using Twitter, a free web-based social media site, can sign up to receive Nebraska’s stimulus updates. Twitter allows registered users to follow information from sources most relevant to them in real-time.
To receive twitter feeds from Recovery.Nebraska.gov, visit http://twitter.com. Registered users can search for people, agencies, and organizations using either the site’s find people function at the top of the page, or the search option at the bottom of the page. To locate the Recovery.Nebraska.gov feed, search for http://twitter.com/recoverynegov. Check the box to start following the feed.
Information resources mentioned in Government Technology Executive News (March 3, 2009) can serve as a resource for those interested in details about the economic stimulus funds, including the OMB document, Stimulus Spending and Reporting Rules from the OMB , and the Mainstreet Economic Recovery Website that should be helpful for local governments.
Additional information on the ARRA from the federal government is available online at http://www.recovery.gov.
Please share your ideas about Nebraska libraries and the stimulus funding by clicking on comment below.
What does the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act mean for Nebraska
Libraries?
At this date, it is not clear how libraries will benefit from the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act, but some provisions could be directed toward
local library support, provided Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman and other
Nebraska decision-makers choose to include libraries in projects funded under
the Act.
In the February 12, 2009 Lincoln Journal Star, the governor stated, “Except for
a wish list of ‘ready to go’ state roads projects totaling $370 million, I don’t
have any list,” (http://journalstar.com/articles/2009/02/12/news/local/doc49948a8767de0632310693.txt).
In the February 18, 2009 Lincoln Journal Star, the governor stated that a $32
million infusion of federal stimulus spending will be committed to road
construction in Nebraska within three weeks, (http://journalstar.com/articles/2009/02/18/news/local/doc499c7cb974f89061598078.txt).
A crucial factor will be the role of local library staff and supporters in
working with local officials to educate state officials on how investing the
funds they receive from Congress in public and school libraries can be essential
to economic recovery.
The following list of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act programs that
libraries might benefit from is excerpted from the American Library Association
(ALA) Washington Office,
http://www.ala.org/knowyourstimulus. As information becomes available, the ALA
Washington Office will post updates on this page with details, such as how
funding will be distributed and how to apply.
$53.6 billion for the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, Nationwide This program
includes $48 billion in block grants allocated among the states. Out of each
state’s allocation, 81.8 percent is reserved for education and 18.2 percent is
reserved for the governor to use as he or she sees fit. br />
The Education Block Grant will be distributed using existing funding formulas,
which can be used for preventing cutbacks, preventing layoffs, school
modernization (school libraries may benefit from this), or other purposes.
The Governor’s Flexible Block Grant will be distributed for state fiscal relief
or high-priority needs. Governor Dave Heineman will determine which public
safety and other critical service projects will receive funds. This could
include public libraries, public school facilities, and institutions of higher
education facilities.
Fund distribution is expected to be as follows:
State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (Millions of dollars, total allocated over
FY2009-FY2010)
Education Block Grant Governor’s Flexible Block Grant
US Total: $39.524.1 $8,793.9
Nebraska: $234.0 $52.1
$7.2 billion for Broadband, Nationwide this includes $2.5 billion for Rural
Utilities Service and $4.7 billion for the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration’s (NTIA) broadband grant program to increase
broadband access and usage in underserved areas of the nation. This may include
$200 million in competitive grants for expanding public computer capacity at
public libraries and community college libraries, but at this time there is no
mechanism for libraries to apply for these funds and no allocation plan
available.
Additional $120 million for the Senior Community Service Employment Program,
Nationwide this funding will provide community service jobs at nonprofit and
public facilities (which could include libraries) for an additional 24,000 older
Americans.
The Senior Community Service Employment Program is a community service and
work-based training program for older workers. Program participants can be
placed in a wide variety of community service positions at non-profit and public
facilities, including daycare centers, senior centers, governmental agencies,
schools, hospitals, libraries and landscaping centers.
Nebraska libraries may qualify as employment sites and host a motivated older
worker who desires to work and learn. For more information or to become a host
agency, see
http://www.experienceworks.org/site/PageServer?pagename=State_Nebraska_Home.
Additional $130 million for the USDA Rural Community Facilities Program,
Nationwide these funds will be distributed through the Housing and Community
Facilities Programs at the United States Department of Agriculture (Community
Facilities Loan Programs and Community Facilities Grant Program).
Facilities funded may include rural schools, libraries, childcare, hospitals,
medical clinics, assisted living facilities, fire and rescue stations, police
stations, community centers, public buildings, and transportation. For more
information see
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ne.
For more information see Recovery.gov or contact Rod Wagner, Nebraska Library
Commission Director, 402-471-4001 or 800-307-2665 or Richard Miller, Nebraska
Library Commission Library Development Director, 402-471-3175 or 800-307-2665.