Two grants totaling $39,000 awarded by Arizona State Library
SHOW LOW, Ariz. (May 21, 2018) – Show Low Public Library was awarded $39,000 in two grants from the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, a division of the Secretary of State. One grant for $35,000 will fund a vehicle for the library’s outreach program, titled “Out and About with Show Low Public Library,” to enable staff to travel to area schools, Show Low Senior Center, assisted living facilities, and similar locations to provide services. The vehicle will be outfitted with a mobile hotspot to allow customers without WiFi service to connect to the Internet. A second grant of $4,000 will be used to purchase books and educational resources, such as STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) kits and non-fiction videos, to update the Home School Collection.
“We are thrilled to receive funding to purchase an outreach vehicle to expand our services outside the library’s walls,” said Library Services Manager Lisa Lewis. “We have community members who are unable to come to the library for a variety of reasons and this vehicle allows us to go to them. We are also pleased to promote education and provide resources for our large population of home-schooled students. Our primary mission at the library is to provide services for all.”
In 2017, the Arizona State Library received about $3.2 million under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), which is administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Arizona libraries received $800,000, awarded on a competitive basis. The remaining funds are used to support statewide services, including family literacy and reading programs, electronic databases, digital government initiatives, continuing education classes and other programs.
“Libraries are community centers that address diverse needs, including employment and economic development, civic engagement and human services,” said Secretary of State Michele Reagan, whose office oversees the State Library. “It is an honor to assist libraries to transform to meet the needs of the community.” For more information about the grants or the programs they will fund, call (928) 532-4070 or go to www.showlowaz.gov/library.