Concord Public Library is pleased to announce that it has been awarded $18,771 in funding through the Institute for Museum and Library Services’ “Grants to States” program. The grant program is part of the American Rescue Act Plan of 2021 and is being facilitated by the N.H. State Library.
Concord Public Library will use this grant award to create an electric “bike bookmobile” program to perform innovative outreach services across the City, serve and promote library services to new community members, and finally, to develop community partnerships that will enhance the quality of life for all of the City's citizens.
In the grant application, Concord Public Library detailed that it would meet these needs by using grant funds to circulate and give away books at community events and promote library services and resources. The library is also researching book delivery to local senior living facilities, and outreach to areas of the city with underserved populations.
There is a tremendous amount of outreach opportunities in the City, beginning with a new partnership with the City's Parks & Recreation Department and S & W Sports. Library staff have been meeting with the department to discuss events that the bike bookmobile program can enhance.
“New Hampshire’s strong relationship with its public libraries was made even more evident during the past two years, when librarians and their staffs were able to adjust services nimbly in order to continue to meet the needs of their communities,” said N.H. State Librarian Michael York. “The innovative programs funded by these grants will continue to strengthen not only public library services, but also the communities in which the libraries reside.”
“As pillars of our communities, libraries and museums bring people together by providing important programs, services and collections. These institutions are trusted spaces where people can learn, explore and grow,” said IMLS Director Crosby Kemper. “IMLS is proud to support their initiatives through our grants as they educate and enhance their communities.”
Part of the N.H. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the N.H. State Library promotes excellence in libraries and library services to all New Hampshire residents, by assisting libraries and the people of New Hampshire with rapid access to library and informational resources through the development and coordination of a statewide library/information system; by meeting the informational needs of New Hampshire’s state, county and municipal governments and its libraries; and by serving as a resource for New Hampshire. For more information, visit nh.gov/nhsl.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow IMLS on Facebook and Twitter.