Non-Recurring SFRF Aid to Public Libraries

In 2021 the North Carolina General Assembly allocated $10 million of the American Rescue Plan State Fiscal Recovery Funds (SFRF) from the U.S. Department of the Treasury that had come to North Carolina to be distributed to public libraries that qualify for State Aid to Public Libraries.

These funds began being distributed to public libraries through the State Library of North Carolina in 2022-23 fiscal year. Funds were distributed in a lump sum allotment. These funds do not revert back to the state at the end of the fiscal year. 

An additional lump sum disbursement will be sent out in the 2024-25 fiscal year of the remaining $650,000 to be distributed. Agreements for the 2024-25 funds will be sent out in late September/early October 2024. Signed agreements must be in place before the second disbursement is distributed. 

All funds have to be spent by December 31, 2026 or may revert back to the State or U.S. Treasury. 

New in 2024: Libraries no longer need to report what funds have been obligated in their quarterly reports. Libraries only need to report what has been spent. 

Once funds are distributed, quarterly reports are due to the State Library of North Carolina. Quarterly reports are due in January, April, July, and October. For those libraries that received funds in September 2022, the first report was due on January 16, 2023 for an extended September - December period. Remaining reports cover 3 month periods. Upcoming report due dates include:

July - September, 2024: Report due October 15, 2024*.
October - December, 2024: Report due January 15, 2025.
January - March, 2025: Report due April 15, 2025.
April - June, 2025: Report due July 16, 2025.
July - September, 2025: Report due October 15, 2025.
October - December, 2025: Report due January 15, 2026.

*If your county/counties were impacted by Hurricane Helene, this report will not be due until January 15, 2025. You can submit two quarterly reports at that time.

Link for the quarterly report form: https://nc.countingopinions.com [Login credentials will be sent to library directors.]

Once logged in, click on the third tab from the left, "Non-recurring SFRF State Aid." Users may log in to the form and save their work without submitting it. As such, the report may be completed in multiple sessions and with information entered by multiple people, as needed.

Once fully expended, a final report and certification are required. All records of expenditures and grant award should be kept and maintained by libraries through December 31, 2031 (five years after the conclusion of the grant period that ends December 31, 2026.)

How can the funds be used?

Below is a list of what is interpreted to be allowable and non-allowable uses for funds to libraries based on the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds’ Non-Recurring State Aid to Libraries grant, based on the readings of federal and state guidelines and regulations. This list is not comprehensive but is intended to provide a general guideline.

Allowable: Non-recurring SFRF AidNon-allowable: Non-recurring SFRF Aid
  • Collections: books, periodicals, newspapers, maps, films, AV, online databases, e-books, software
  • Carpet/ceiling/floor repair or replacement
  • Bookmobiles, library courier vehicles, book bikes
  • Materials – book carts, shelving, end caps, decorations, programming fees and support materials for programming
  • Furniture
  • Modernization of cybersecurity, including hardware, software, and protection of critical infrastructure
  • Security staff salaries (not to exceed $25,000 per individual in SFRF funds) and security systems
  • Self-check outs or other methods of check out
  • Physically Handicapped materials and equipment (including automatic doors, accessibility ramps, etc.)
  • Landscape design projects, especially if for outdoor programming
  • Outdoor or indoor safety features to ensure visitor and staff safety
  • Painting (interior or exterior)
  • Parking lot re-pavement, as long as it is pay-go (cash in hand not loan or repayment of debt/loan)
  • Salaries and bonuses for any staff, including security staff (not to exceed $25,000 per individual in SFRF funds). Benefits and associated payroll taxes (FICA) are also allowable uses of these funds.
  • Consultants concerning library operations, services, or related endeavors
  • Roof replacement, sidewalk improvements
  • Building improvement projects, renovations, adding/modifying entrances (cash in hand not loan or repayment of debt/loan)
  • Technology: equipment, wifi expansion, technology to lend out, maker spaces, sound system for programming/security, etc.
  • Environmental remediation (mold or asbestos remediation, installation of dehumidifiers, upgrades to HVAC for environmental controls)
  • Health services: Including staff or contracts for mental health and telehealth services/programming, fitness/wellness programming, or cooking programming, community garden
  • Continuing education or training for staff, workshop costs, travel costs, etc.
  • Financial audit
  • Migration to new software system to support library operations
  • Costs paid by the library as a sponsor or host of a conference/event/program such as rental of facilities, speakers' fees, interpreter fees, and other items incidental to such conferences/events/programs.
  • Repayment of loans
  • Directly or indirectly offset a reduction in taxes
  • Pay for debt service
  • Replenish financial reserves
  • Placed in savings or an endowment to be spent after December 2026.
  • Pension Plans or pension plan fees
  • Satisfy an obligation arising from a judicial settlement or judgement
  • Undermine practices included in the CDC’s guidelines and recommendations for stopping the spread of COVID-19