The State Library of North Carolina announces the 2022-2023 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant awardees. This year's federal allotment will be distributed on behalf of North Carolina's libraries through programs and services available under the North Carolina LSTA Five Year Plan. The 37 awards, totaling $2,047,954, go to local library projects that:
• Strengthen Capacity
• Expand Access
• Engage Communities
Onslow County Public Library is partnering with the Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department to promote reading, health literacy, and physical fitness with a new program, Rec & Read. Rec & Read will be a mobile trailer equipped with library and recreational programming supplies that can be taken to underserved areas of the county.
East Carolina University’s Joyner Library Special Collections in collaboration with the Phoenix Historical Society will document the history of Kingsboro, a predominately Black community in eastern North Carolina, and their fight against environmental racism. A documentary will be created, and historical and research documents will be accessible to document the voices of those scarcely heard in archival collections.
Caswell County Public Library will create two StoryWalks ® along community walkways to provide an educational and physical activity that promotes literacy skills for children in an outdoor environment with family and friends.
Neuse Regional Library will implement a series of programs to address community health issues and expand access to social services with their project, Mind Over Matter: Conversations about Mental Health. Healthcare professionals will lead discussions on mental health issues and a full-time social worker will be hired to connect community members with resources.
These grant awards are made possible by funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (IMLS grant number LS-252476-OLS-22).
LSTA grants are awarded in response to specific needs of public, academic, and community college libraries. These federal funds are investments that help libraries deliver relevant and up-to-date services to their communities.
A full list of awardees appears at: https://slnc.info/SLNC-LSTA.
About the State Library of North Carolina
The State Library enriches the lives of North Carolinians through access to information resources, strengthens communities through exceptional library services, and inspires and supports literacy and lifelong learning for all North Carolinians. The Library Development section helps North Carolina Libraries serve their communities by providing consulting services, supporting continuing education opportunities, and administering grant programs, including the Aid to Public Libraries fund that supports public libraries serving all 100 NC counties. The North Carolina Accessible Books and Library Services (SLNC ABLS) circulates books and magazines especially made for persons who cannot use regular printed material because of a visual or physical disability. The Government & Heritage Library provides library materials and services to support state employees, family history researchers, educators and students, and those interested in North Carolina culture and history.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state's natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. NCDNCR's mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state's history, conserving the state's natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development.
NCDNCR includes 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, three science museums, three aquariums and Jennette's Pier, 41 state parks and recreation areas, the N.C. Zoo, the N.C. Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, State Preservation Office and the Office of State Archaeology, and the Division of Land and Water Stewardship. For more information, please visit www.ncdcr.gov.