State Announces Over $2.5 Million Awarded to Local Libraries
From Carteret County to Cullowhee, 41 libraries across the state have been awarded a total of $2,527,641 in grant funds from the State Library of North Carolina with funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) to support new or expanded library programs and services, as well as limited ongoing projects. The grants were awarded based on criteria that advance the State Library of North Carolina’s goals of Community Engagement, Equitable Access, and Responsive Organizations.
These projects will support the critical work of libraries, including developing adult literacy programs, providing learning opportunities for health and wellness, creating welcoming spaces for neurodiverse individuals, and broadening access to materials through digitization and preservation. “Libraries are essential and trusted community institutions,” said Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Reid Wilson. “They provide programs and services that make all our lives richer, from cooking classes to toddler story time to mobile libraries. These federal funds are investments that will help public libraries deliver relevant and innovative services to their communities.”
- Alamance County Public Libraries - Strategic Plan Refresh: $27,200
- Appalachian Regional Library - Adult Literacy Services @ Your Library: $79,226
- Brunswick County Library - Brunswick County Library Migration: $10,000
- Carteret Community College - Evergreen Migration for CC Libraries! Phase II: $106,865
- Catawba County Library - SensoryScape: Inclusive Play Space: $38,903
- Catawba County Library - Meeting the Moment: Equitable Connections: $17,037
- Chapel Hill Public Library - Chapel Hill Descendants Project: $45,000
- Chatham County Public Library - Chatham County Public Libraries' StoryWalk®: $36,228
- Cumberland County Public Library - Culinary Literacy and Wellness at the Library: $40,500
- Davidson County Public Library - StoryWalk® at Yadkin River Park: $6,992
- Duplin County Library - Story Walk® around the county with Me!: $19,402
- Durham County Library - Meeting the Makers Where They Are: $40,300
- East Carolina University - City of Greenville StoryWalks®: $50,000
- Fontana Regional Library - Kitchen Literacy Connection: $19,626
- Forsyth Technical Community College - Forsyth Tech Makerspace: $37,500
- Franklin County Library - Franklin County Library Strategic Plan: $26,475
- Franklin County Library - STEAM Powered Learning: $32,136
- Gardner-Webb University - Cleveland Co. Historic Documents Digitization: $42,000
- Gaston College - Enhancing Library Accessibility and Support: $99,607
- High Plains Indians - Sappony Digital Preservation: $84,942
- Iredell County Public Library - Meeting Space at Main: $27,450
- Lincoln County Public Library - STEMobile: $100,000
- Mars Hill University - MHU Library and Universal Design for Learning: $25,151
- Mooresville Public Library - Laptops for Coding: $42,641
- Neuse Regional Library - Neuse Regional Libraries Cybersecurity Audit: $17,220
- Neuse Regional Library - Teen Leadership Internship Program: $30,267
- New Hanover County Public Library - Local History Archival Management Implementation $39,082
- North Carolina Library Association - NCLA Leadership Institute 2024: $6,000
- North Carolina Public Library Directors Association - Professional Development Summits 2024-2025: $13,000
- North Carolina State University on behalf of NCSU Libraries - Expanded Extending Cooperative Extension History:$149,999
- North Carolina State University on behalf of NCSU Libraries - Statewide E-Resources for Underserved Populations: $150,000
- Pettigrew Regional Library - Digital Literacy for Preschoolers: $10,496
- Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield - STEAM Makerspace: $21,726
- Robeson County Public Library - Robeson County Public Library Migration: $10,000
- Southern Pines Public Library - Dementia/Memory Care Kit Collection: $5,000.00
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - North Carolina Digital Heritage Center: $814,264
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro-People Not Property - Slave Deeds Expansion: $103,083
- University of North Carolina School of the Arts - Collaboration, Creativity, Flexibility at School of the Arts: $34,125
- Western Carolina University, Hunter Library - Hunter Library Touchscreen Kiosk Project: $15,971
- Wilkes Community College - A Library for All Learners: $44,397
- Wilson Community College - Transforming Library Services: $7,830
Click here to see the complete list of awardees and abstracts.
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-256834-OLS-24).
SLNC at Best Practices Exchange 2024
SLNC presenters Becky Forbes and Victoria Haas shared information about migrating the NC Digital Collections digital assets to its new platform at the Best Practices Exchange (BPE) 2024, held in June 2024 at California State University, Sacramento, in Sacramento, CA. The migration was completed with the hope that it will improve the user experience for Digital Collections users. The NC Digital Collections features 158,000 historic and recent photographs, state government publications, manuscripts, and other resources on topics related to North Carolina. The Collections are free and full-text searchable, and bring together content from the State Archives of North Carolina and the State Library of North Carolina. The migration was funded in part with a Library Services and Technology Act grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The Best Practices Exchange (BPE) is an informal conference for practitioners focusing on managing digital information. It offers peer-to-peer learning and discussion of real-world experiences, best practices, and lessons learned. Attendees include librarians, archivists, information technologists, educators, and researchers from Government and University Archives and Libraries.
New to the North Carolina Digital Collections
- Appropriate Directions for the Modern College in the Challenging New Educational Era: Published in 1961 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of North Carolina College at Durham (now North Carolina Central University). The publication includes a salutation, proclamation, and resolution, as well as essays and discussions on topics such as the college's responsibility to public education and college students, the program of higher education, and a section dedicated to participants in the anniversary celebration.
- Facts about Fort Bragg, North Carolina: Published in 1926, it Includes an overview of the early history of the fort and military units, information about the location's natural land advantages, and a description of the various utilities and facilities necessary for the post and its garrison.
- Let's Go Fishing and Hunting in North Carolina: Published in 1960, this pamphlet includes descriptions of North Carolina's geographic regions, fishing, and hunting. Images are throughout the publication.
- Watkins Family of North Carolina: Particularly Enumerating those Descendants of Levin Watkins of Duplin County, N.C., Who Emigrated to Alabama and Mississippi Early in the Nineteenth Century: Published 1915.; Along with information and photos of the Watkins family, it includes a list of Watkins in NC during the 1790 census and the number of enslaved individuals.