Museum and Library Services Act Funding in North Carolina

Explore the map above to view member libraries

NC Cardinal is a consortium of North Carolina public libraries that share an online catalog and integrated library system (ILS), and share resources with other member libraries.  The program’s mission is to maintain and continually develop a working, efficient, and sustainable ILS for public libraries and library staff within North Carolina.

Fast Facts:

• 44% of NC residents are served by a Cardinal member library
• 234 member locations are spread across 66 counties
• 988k items are borrowed by NC library users on average each month

All public and community college libraries across the state are provided access to a content management system software solution, called LibGuides. This software allows library staff to create and manage websites, organize resources, and promote library services, often for specific subjects, courses, or topics. Libraries also have access to other features, including calendaring and registration for patron programs and events.

For the past several years, LSTA dollars have been invested in purchasing supplemental materials for NC Kids and NC Kids Level-Up Digital Libraries. NC Kids is primarily state-funded through a recurring annual allocation authorized by the NC Legislature. Additional LSTA funds allow for supplemental materials to be added to these collections. These materials are available to any NC resident through their local public library card. These digital libraries provide 24/7 access to literacy materials with many items available without waiting lists. 

Fast Facts:

• 13 million e-books & e-audiobooks available
• Nearly 1.2 million items were borrowed last year.

DigitalNC.org

The North Carolina Digital Heritage Center, housed at the University of North Carolina's Wilson Special Collections Library, supports community engagement and lifelong learning by promoting and increasing access to North Carolina's cultural heritage. The Center does this by digitizing materials from the collections of cultural heritage institutions throughout the state and making them freely accessible online both on DigitalNC.org and through the Digital Public Library of America. Center staff use their extensive network to connect communities, practitioners, and local history enthusiasts and researchers. The Center is committed to providing low-barrier, flexible, and relevant services that meet the changing needs of North Carolina's cultural heritage institutions.

#EverythingNC

New items are digitized for the NC Digital Collections by the SLNC Government & Heritage Library; articles will be created and improved in both English and Spanish for NCpedia and ANCHOR (A NC History Online Resource).  New NCpedia resources for students and educators are developed to support school curricula across the state. The State Library of North Carolina preserves government publications with needed software (LibSafe) and implementation of best practices.

SLNC offers professional development opportunities for all levels of library staff. Staff members from any NC library can attend live learning sessions held virtually and in-person, access hundreds of on-demand, self-paced learning courses through the SLNC Academy, and apply for scholarships to attend workshops and conferences. Targeted training is offered for new library directors, library managers, youth and adult services staff and for specialized topics such as assessment, service design and delivery, and working with special populations.

Fast Facts:

• 103 live learning events were hosted in 2023-24 with 1,345 attendees
• Over 70k SLNC Academy courses accessed in 2023-24

All NC residents have access to Northstar through their local public library. Northstar contains self-guided learning modules on basic skills needed to perform tasks on computers and online. Included are basic computer digital literacy standards and modules in three main areas:

• Essential Computer Skills - Basic Computer Skills, Internet Basics, Using Email, Windows OS, Mac OS
• Essential Software Skills – Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs
• Using Technology in Daily Life - Social Media, Information Literacy, Career Search Skills, Accessing Telehealth Appointments, Supporting K-12 Distance Learning, Your Digital Footprint.

Northstar was created by Literacy Minnesota in response to the needs of job seekers who may lack the digital literacy skills needed to seek, obtain, and retain employment, as well as to perform other tasks in daily life.

Craven-Pamlico Regional Library (CPRL) in collaboration with Heartworks, a non-profit afterschool care facility, broke down barriers to literacy in rural Pamlico County by creating a safe, welcoming, vibrant, and accessible library space (Maribelle Hollowell Annex) in the Heartworks building. The Maribelle Hollowell Annex has developmentally appropriate and culturally-inclusive collection and offers programs focused on encouraging reading, overcoming barriers, surviving tragedies, promoting self esteem, and personal growth for preschool through 8th grade. Technology, (hotspots, iPads and Chromebooks) are also available for circulation. The annex joins CPRL in sharing resources and collections in Craven and Pamlico County not only supporting access, but lifelong learning.

Q&A with Sidney Phibbons, Branch Manager of Pamlico County Public Library apart of the Craven-Pamlico Regional Library

How did the idea for the Maribelle Hollowell Annex come about?

The idea for the Maribelle Hollowell Annex was sparked by a series of collaborative conversations with Dr. Sue Lee, the founder of the  Heartworks which is aa grant funded after-school facility. Dr. Susan Lee, advocate for libraries, expressed her desire for the children who attend Heartworks to have access more literary resources and she was concern that these children had limited access to reading materials.  After the discussion, I wanted to learn more about the usage of the library by the families and children participating at Heartworks.  Months of personal research showed that only 10% of the students had library cards and only 5 % had used the library in the past year.  This was a significant population of Pamlico County being underserved.  A survey of the parents showed that the main reason for lack of library usage was threefold: lack of time (many worked several jobs)  and transportation, lack of knowledge regarding libraries in general and what was available, and literacy being low [priority versus food and shelter.  

Additional discussions with Dr. Lee and the Heartworks board and staff provided a contract for Heartworks to provide space and utilities and for CPRL to provide professional staff and resources.   In addition, we were contacted by an Eagle Scout interested in doing a project with Craven-Pamlico Regional. When told about the future collaboration with Heartworks, the Eagle Scout jumped on board to provide volunteers and resources to update the facility provided – cleaning, painting, books, and purchasing a self-checkout machine.

What has been the impact of the Maribelle Hollowell Annex on your community and library?

The availability of library services at the Hollowell Annex has had a positive impact on the 250 students who attend HeartWorks each year, as well as their families. It has led to an increase in literacy rates, provided opportunities for access, and contributed to the development of life skills. Giving children the chance to access the library and be exposed to reading has resulted in creating a positive association with reading, ultimately improving their overall literacy skills. This, in turn, has had a positive impact on their test scores, school performance, and the development of invaluable life skills.

The staff at this facility work hard to ensure that children develop life skills through library utilization, such as finding information and learning how to responsibly borrow and return library materials. This positively impacts not only the children, but also their families, as opportunities for library access extend to them. Many people learn about library services through their children's exposure at this facility.

What are your future plans for the Maribelle Hollowell Annex?

We aim to provide programs that enhance the lives of the children who regularly visit the facility, while also creating opportunities for outreach to involve their parents and families.

We plan in the future to develop programs focused on not only literacy but library skills. When children learn how to locate information, discover what they enjoy reading, and how to find it in a library, the impact will extend throughout their lives.

This annex will enable the Pamlico County Library to continue providing essential services and resources that the community relies on, as we transition to our new standalone facility, rather than closing during this period.

A future goal is also to expand use of the facility by patrons not associated with Heartworks with programming during hours that the students are not in the facility.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Library skills do not always come easily to those who have not been exposed to a public library or may have other challenges such as living between multiple homes. We are coming up with creative ways to address issues such as lost and damaged materials such as our 'book swap' program. Community members donate used books to the Friends of the Library and instead of selling all these books, the Friends of the Library have allocated around 50% of these donations to the ‘book swap’ program. Thanks to the 'book swap' program, children with outstanding fines or damaged materials are able to maintain access to library resources and every child who visits the facility leaves with a book to read and are encouraged to use the library.

Originally, CPRL had planned to supplement staff at the Hollowell Annex with volunteers but we quickly discovered that the children required a consistent/connection to staff to feel safe and secure in their use of the library.  CPRL took on the initiative to budget professional staff to allow bonding and building strong relationships with the children and their families. In addition, emotional labor and stress are higher in this environment than in a regular branch as the majority of the population struggles with food insecurities and financial issues, and many of the children need additional social and emotional reassurance.

Duplin County Library's goal of NC Cardinal Consortium migration was to bring access to its vast collection of materials to the patrons of rural Duplin County.  Library patrons of all ages gained access to regional collections in addition to volumes of materials traditionally ordered for libraries in general. 

Q&A with Laura, Jones, director of Duplin County Library

How did the idea for this grant project come about?

I became public library director in Duplin County after serving 7 years in the local school system as a media coordinator.  I learned about NC Cardinal in my new director training in the fall of 2018.  I was immediately interested in the opportunities that consortium membership could bring to the patrons in our rural area.

What has been the impact of this project in your community and library?

Joining the NC Cardinal Consortium in October 2022 has been so beneficial to our patrons.  We saw an increase of more than 625 new library cards in the first year of membership!  Patrons of all ages have enjoyed access to materials from across the state. While our staff is always willing to assist patrons in searching for materials, we were very excited about how quickly our patrons were able to navigate the site to put their own materials on hold.  Our homeschool families are most appreciative of materials they request to support their particular curriculum.  Some of the items are a bit obscure so it is always exciting when they find what they need! There are several patrons with familial roots in the mountain region who enjoy access to regional authors and materials.  Our 5 book clubs really enjoy planning their list of titles knowing that they have such a tremendous collection to explore in Cardinal.

What are your future plans for this project?

Joining the NC Cardinal Consortium has allowed our library system to reallocate State Aid from our collection to updating our appearance in the main library.  In 2023 we replaced 8 ft metal shelving and handmade wooden shelves dating back to the 1970s with matching 5ft shelving that gives our library a modern feel and allows for a more efficient patron experience.  Previously our main library shelving had been compared to “medical records storage” with its sterile, industrial appearance.  The new shelving allows for unobstructed views across the space bringing light to all corners of the building.  Staff and patrons alike enjoy the new shelves and the ample display areas where new materials can be highlighted.  We will continue replacing old metal shelves in our Beulaville and Warsaw-Kornegay branches over the next few years using State Aid previously designated for books.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

While there may have been some initial resistance to the changes brought by consortium membership, patrons and staff quickly embraced the resource sharing process and the overall experience in our system is very positive. Our weekly resource sharing activities allow for the patrons in our rural area to enjoy reading materials they may have previously purchased from Amazon, Target or other book vendors. This cost-savings has been terrific! 

Forsyth Technical Community College aims to strengthen the capacity of its central library by engaging a skilled consultant to prepare a comprehensive assessment of strengths, weaknesses, and threats with equal attention to current needs and future opportunities. Although traditional library functions remain important, library staff and college leadership are eager to further position the library to support the college vision to become “a catalyst for equitable economic mobility, empowering lives, and transforming communities". Supporting the college vision requires vital, modern, and dynamic library facilities and resources to create opportunities for broader and more innovative ways of serving the needs of the college community and remaining relevant into the future.

Q&A with Placedia Nance, Dean of Library Services, Forsyth Technical Community College

How did the idea for this planning project come about?

As the newly appointed library director, I recognized the importance of developing a strategic plan that aligns closely with the Forsyth Technical Community College overarching goals. Strategic plans serve as essential roadmaps for organizations, guiding their direction and helping to prioritize tasks effectively. Given the magnitude of this undertaking, I decided to apply for a LSTA grant to hire a Library Consultant to help with this arduous task.  The consultant's role would be to conduct comprehensive research, perform interviews with library stakeholders, and analyze our organization thoroughly. It was imperative that the chosen consultant possessed relevant experience as a librarian, along with the necessary credentials and expertise to support me in my new leadership position. Coinciding with this initiative was the rare occurrence of new staff members joining the library.  I viewed this strategic planning project as an excellent opportunity to not only guide our future work but also to provide all staff members with a platform to contribute their insights regarding the library's vision and mission. This approach aims to foster a collaborative environment, ensure alignment with institutional goals, and establish a solid foundation for the library's future growth and development.

What has been the impact of the strategic plan on your community and library?

The implementation of our Strategic Plan has profoundly impacted the library's operations and initiatives. It serves as the driving force behind our work and provides a clear rationale for our actions. Here are some of the key projects we have successfully accomplished because of this strategic approach:

• Collection Optimization: We conducted a comprehensive weeding process of our entire collection, significantly reducing its size. This was necessary as many materials dated back to 1958 and were no longer circulating. This initiative has helped to create a more relevant with updated scholarly literature. Since the collection is current our circulation has increased.
• Technology Enhancement: We transitioned to RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) tags and installed a self-check machine. This upgrade has streamlined the checkout and renewal processes for students, faculty, and staff, improving overall efficiency and the user experience.
• Collaborative Outreach: In partnership with the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, we organized an open house event last August for faculty, staff, and students. This successful initiative attracted over 100 attendees, providing them with valuable information about library resources, tutoring services, and testing.
• Campus-wide Engagement: We have expanded our presence by participating in Campus Outreach events across all campus locations at the beginning of each semester. This allows us to inform students about the various services the library offers. Additionally, we've collaborated with the Early Childcare Learning Lab to provide books for early education teachers and children, extending our reach and impact.

These projects demonstrate how our Strategic Plan has enabled us to align our efforts with the needs of our academic community, enhance our technological capabilities, and foster meaningful collaborations across the institution. By continually referring to our strategic objectives, we ensure that our initiatives remain focused, relevant, and impactful.

What are your future plans for your strategic plan?

As we look to the future, our commitment to executing the initiatives outlined in our strategic plan remains steadfast. This living document will continue to guide our efforts, serving as a crucial tool for tracking progress, optimizing workflows, and measuring our impact. Key objectives for the upcoming period include:

• Continuous Evaluation: Regularly assess our progress against the benchmarks set in the strategic plan, making data-driven adjustments as necessary.
• Workflow Optimization: Utilize the strategic plan to streamline our processes, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and maximizing staff productivity.
• Impact Measurement: Develop and implement robust metrics to quantify the library's contribution to student success, faculty research, and overall institutional goals.
• Relocation Preparation: Leverage the strategic plan as a framework for planning and executing our upcoming move to a new library facility. This will ensure that the transition aligns with our long-term objectives and enhances our ability to serve our patrons effectively.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Continue to involve faculty, students, and staff in the ongoing refinement of our strategic initiatives, ensuring that our services remain relevant and responsive to evolving needs.
• Technology Integration: Pursue innovative technological solutions that support our strategic goals and enhance the user experience.

By maintaining a strong focus on our strategic plan, we aim to create a dynamic, forward-thinking library that adapts to changing educational landscapes while consistently delivering high-value services to our academic community. The impending relocation presents an exciting opportunity to reimagine our spaces and services in alignment with our College Vision 2025, positioning the library as a central hub for learning, research, and collaboration in our institution.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

The expertise of Arnessa Dowell with Gracious Guidance LLC, helped provide a framework to identify areas for development and improvement throughout our strategic plan development. We’ve recently continued our work together to conduct an updated SWOT (Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats) analysis for the library.

Interdepartmental collaboration has proved to be highly beneficial, enabling us to efficiently market and promote our services while gaining valuable insights into other areas of the institution. I strongly encourage my peers to maximize the use of available grant resources and to think innovatively. By doing so, we can transform our libraries into space that not only fosters student success but also become favored destinations for socializing and studying. This approach can significantly enhance the overall student experience and the library’s role within the academic community.

The NC State University Libraries will conduct a one-year project titled “Extending NC Cooperative Extension Digital History” to further digital discoverability of primary source materials on agricultural extension and its impact on North Carolina’s citizens and the state’s 20th century agricultural economy. This project will scan, describe, and create a full text index of 5,945 digital objects (pages/items) from reports, pamphlets, publications, film, and other archival materials in the Libraries’ collections on North Carolina Cooperative Extension. The project will create a single online access point in which library users, North Carolina citizens, and researchers throughout the world can access these important historical materials.

Q&A with Todd Kosmerick, University Archivist

How did the idea for this grant project come about?  

Our project, Extending NC Cooperative Extension Digital History, was the most recent in a string of projects to digitize historical materials on agriculture and North Carolina Cooperative Extension.  We have many great resources on these topics, as part of the University Archives and the Libraries' Special Collections, and there has been consistent research interest in them over the years.  Because of this, we have been digitizing them for many years now.  The digital resources are discoverable and accessible on the NC State University Libraries' Rare & Unique Digital Collections website, and we wanted to continue our digitization "momentum" with Extending Extension.  

What has been the impact of this project in your community (or library if internally focused)?

Digitization has provided us with more online resources for our Special Collections staff to provide to our campus communities.  They are used in academic classroom instruction, even though physical use of materials has returned to pre-pandemic levels.  Students in many different disciplines, not just history majors, want access to historical materials.  Undergraduate students especially expect online access to information resources, and many faculty members want their students to produce digital assignments.  In addition, communication staff on campus are using our historical materials in blog posts, online publications, videos, and other outlets. 

What are your future plans for this project?

We have so many materials on the history of Cooperative Extension and agriculture in North Carolina that we plan to continue to digitize more.  In fact, we have recently submitted another LSTA grant proposal to do just that!  In addition, we are exploring future exhibit ideas that would be able to use some of the digital images created so far.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

We really appreciate the support we've received over the years from the State Library and the LSTA program.

Neuse Regional Libraries (NRL) recognized that following the COVID-19 pandemic, many community members were struggling with mental health issues as well as meeting basic needs. The Library hired a full-time Resource Specialist/Social Worker to lead Let's Connect, an initiative to help people with concerns such as housing, mental and physical health, food insecurity, employment, and veteran’s assistance. Let's Connect services were offered not only at library locations, but throughout Lenoir, Jones, and Greene counties using NRL's Digital Resource Rover. The Library also hosted a series called "Mind Over Matter", with programming that addressed mental health issues such as anxiety, substance abuse, and suicide awareness. Additionally, computers and hot spots were added to increase access to online resources for the Let's Connect and the Mind Over Matter participants.

Q&A with Sarah Sever, Assistant Director of Neuse Regional Libraries

How did the idea for this grant project come about?

After receiving a LSTA Scholarship to attend PLA in Nashville in 2020, I went to a session on Social Work Interns and Public Libraries. Feeling inspired after the conference, I contacted East Carolina University’s Social Work Department and arranged for a social work student intern to be placed at the Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library for the following spring. The Social Work interns began meeting with library patrons one-on-one to provide information and referrals to social service resources such as employment security, family services, mental health services, veteran’s assistance, and food security. The pandemic made this new initiative even more vital for community support, and since student interns were limited to serving during each spring semester, Neuse Regional Libraries next submitted and received a LSTA grant to fund both a mental health series and a full-time Social Worker for two years. That is when Social Worker extraordinaire Joyce Hawkins entered the scene.

What has been the impact of this project in your community?

In her role as Resource Specialist/Social Worker for Neuse Regional Libraries, Joyce has been able to help hundreds of community members find jobs, homes, food, and so much more through the Let’s Connect program. Another incredibly important element of her position is outreach. She visits public housing on the Library’s LSTA-funded Digital Resource Rover to bring Let’s Connect services to people who may have trouble getting to the library due to transportation issues. She also visits the Friends of the Homeless shelter each week to provide their guests with support and referrals.

Joyce has planned and implemented multiple programs for our ongoing Mind Over Matter mental health series. These free programs feature presentations from experts on subjects such as anxiety, sleep disorders, substance abuse, eating disorders, and suicide prevention. The programs help educate participants on topics that are often stigmatized, while also allowing them a safe space to share their personal stories.

What are your future plans for this project?

Joyce continues to help people via Let’s Connect at our library locations, all while expanding outreach visits. She is currently working with local organizations to establish a mobile food bank in the Pink Hill area. Mind Over Matter mental health programs have been planned for each of the library locations in our three-county system.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

We are incredibly appreciative of the funding opportunities available through the State Library and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Because of them we can continue to offer new and valuable library services to our communities.

The  Onslow County Public Library and Parks and Recreation Department came together to build a mobile outreach center aimed at bringing literacy and physical activity to underserved areas of their community. The Mobile Rec & Read trailer has become a fixture at community events, bringing services people who might not ordinarily have access to resources from either department. By working together and getting out into the community these departments have created an exciting and engaging opportunity to reach all corners of Onslow County.

Q&A with Senatra Spearman of Onslow County Public Library

How did the idea for this grant project come about?  

The Onslow County Rec & Read project was conceived as a collaboration between the Onslow County Public Library and the Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department. The goal was to enhance reading literacy and physical fitness across Onslow County by bringing programs directly to underserved areas in outdoor spaces. The trailer, designed with eye-catching graphics highlight both the library and parks and recreation departments,  moves throughout the county equipped to deliver engaging activities and promote resources that support reading and fitness.

What has been the impact of this project in your community?

The Rec & Read project has had a significant impact on our community by bridging gaps in access to literacy and recreational resources. Since the introduction of the mobile trailer, we've seen a notable increase in engagement among underserved areas in Onslow County. The trailer has enabled us to reach diverse populations who previously had limited access to library programs and recreational activities.

The trailer has become a vibrant hub of excitement at local community events, sparking a love for reading and promoting active lifestyles! Everywhere it goes, we see enthusiastic crowds diving into our literacy nooks and joining in on fun fitness activities. The hands-on programs not only boost participation but also weave stronger community connections, turning each event into a celebration of learning and movement.

What are your future plans for this project?

Looking ahead, we’re excited to expand the reach and impact of the Rec & Read trailer even further! Our future plans include adding new interactive features and resources to the trailer, such as digital storytelling tools and a mini pop-up library to keep the experience fresh and engaging. We also aim to collaborate with local schools and community groups for specialized programs tailored to their needs.

In addition, we plan to increase the trailer's presence at a wider variety of events and festivals, reaching even more neighborhoods and engaging more community members. We’re exploring opportunities to integrate seasonal themes and special events, making every visit a unique and anticipated experience.

Ultimately, our goal is to continue building on the success we've achieved, fostering a culture of reading and fitness throughout Onslow County, and making the Onslow County Rec & Read trailer a beloved fixture in our community’s journey toward lifelong learning and healthy living.