Beginning September 1, 2020, the State Library of Oregon is offering non-competitive subgrants to 55 public, tribal, and community college libraries in Oregon, based on priorities identified by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Funds may be applied retroactively to allowable costs made since April 21, 2020, and are to be used for the purposes outlined below by March 31, 2021.
All applicants must apply through the State Library of Oregon’s online grants portal. Once you log in, you will need to enter the code we've provided via email to access the online application form. A preview of the application form can be viewed here.
All public libraries in Oregon should already have an organizational profile in the portal and at least one associated user account, as well as tribes and community college libraries that have recently applied for a LSTA grant. If you have already created an account but don’t have your login information, please click the ‘Forgot your password?’ link on the login screen.
For additional assistance, please contact Ross Fuqua at ross.fuqua@slo.oregon.gov.
Timeline
The IMLS received $50 million dollars through the federal CARES Act of which $30 million is being distributed to each state and territory based on population. On April 21, 2020, Oregon was allocated a total of $381,108. State Libraries Administrative Agencies in each state and territory are developing plans for these funds to help support libraries in their area, using very similar guidelines and processes as with their existing LSTA Programs.
The IMLS has provided the following direction on how this CARES Act funding is to be used:
a. Primarily to address digital inclusion and related technical support, using the following types of data to inform targeted efforts:
b. Secondarily to address other efforts that prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19; and
c. With respect to (a) or (b), reach museum and tribal partners, in addition to traditionally eligible library entities, where appropriate.
Digital inclusion is the concept that individuals and communities should be afforded access to and use of computers, mobile devices, and the Internet. Another underlying principle of digital inclusion is that individuals and communities require the knowledge, skills, background content, and technical support services necessary to use these technologies. So, in addition to providing access to broadband and Internet-connected devices, libraries pursuing digital inclusion should provide opportunities to help individuals develop the digital skills they need for success in education, employment, and civic engagement.
At their meeting on August 14, 2020, the State Library Board approved the following distribution plan, which focuses on building infrastructure and capacity for digital inclusion and engagement in Oregon’s highest-need communities.
To arrive at a list of eligible libraries and communities, the State Library applied the IMLS' three suggested criteria to identify areas of highest need:
Based on those results, the funds will be distributed to:
Each library will be allocated a $2,000 minimum grant, and the remainder will be distributed based on service population:
Each tribe and eligible library will be invited to apply for a non-competitive grant, up to their full amount. Because eligible libraries may choose not to apply for the sub-grant, may only apply for a portion of it, or may not spend the entire amount, the State Library Board will reallocate any remaining CARES Act funds in Summer 2021.
LIBRARY |
COUNTY |
CARES Act Award (rounded to nearest dollar) |
Agness Community Library District |
Curry |
$ 2,058.00 |
Baker County Library District |
Baker |
$ 8,616.00 |
Bandon Public Library |
Coos |
$ 4,783.00 |
Burns Paiute Tribal Library |
|
$ 2,165.00 |
C. Giles Hunt Memorial Library |
Douglas |
$ 5,234.00 |
Chetco Community Public Library |
Curry |
$ 7,647.00 |
Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Tribal Library |
|
$ 2,484.00 |
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Library |
|
$ 4,558.00 |
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Tribal Library |
|
$ 4,146.00 |
Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Library |
|
$ 3,228.00 |
Coos Bay Public Library |
Coos |
$ 13,043.00 |
Coquille Indian Tribe Library |
|
$ 2,429.00 |
Coquille Public Library |
Coos |
$ 3,805.00 |
Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians Tribal Library |
|
$ 2,722.00 |
Crook County Library |
Crook |
$ 10,961.00 |
Curry Public Library District |
Curry |
$ 3,952.00 |
Dora Public Library |
Coos |
$ 2,369.00 |
Driftwood Public Library |
Lincoln |
$ 7,941.00 |
Elgin Public Library |
Union |
$ 3,038.00 |
Emma Humphrey Library |
Malheur |
$ 2,769.00 |
F. Maxine and Thomas W. Cook Memorial Library |
Union |
$ 10,007.00 |
Flora M. Laird Memorial Library |
Coos |
$ 4,129.00 |
Harney County Library |
Harney |
$ 4,912.00 |
Hazel M. Lewis Library |
Coos |
$ 2,329.00 |
Jackson County Library Services |
Jackson |
$ 88,497.00 |
Jefferson County Library District |
Jefferson |
$ 9,798.00 |
Josephine Community Library District |
Josephine |
$ 17,488.00 |
Klamath Community College |
Klamath |
$ 2,745.00 |
Klamath County Library Library Service District |
Klamath |
$ 28,817.00 |
Klamath Tribal Library |
|
$ 4,104.00 |
Lake County Library District |
Lake |
$ 5,202.00 |
Lakeside Public Library |
Coos |
$ 2,934.00 |
Langlois Library District |
Curry |
$ 2,275.00 |
Lincoln County Library District |
Lincoln |
$ 3,187.00 |
Lower Umpqua Library District |
Douglas |
$ 4,552.00 |
Newport Public Library |
Lincoln |
$ 9,111.00 |
North Bend Public Library |
Coos |
$ 7,575.00 |
North Douglas Library District |
Douglas |
$ 3,022.00 |
North Powder City Library |
Union |
$ 2,267.00 |
Nyssa Public Library |
Malheur |
$ 3,306.00 |
Oakland Public Library |
Douglas |
$ 2,381.00 |
Ontario Library District |
Malheur |
$ 12,522.00 |
Oregon Coast Community College Library |
Lincoln |
$ 2,190.00 |
Port Orford Public Library |
Curry |
$ 2,983.00 |
Rogue Community College |
Jackson |
$ 3,723.00 |
Roseburg Public Library |
Douglas |
$ 11,794.00 |
Southwestern Oregon Community College |
Coos |
$ 2,897.00 |
Toledo Public Library |
Lincoln |
$ 4,259.00 |
Treasure Valley Community College |
Malheur |
$ 2,847.00 |
Umpqua Community College Library |
Douglas |
$ 3,064.00 |
Union Carnegie Public Library |
Union |
$ 3,297.00 |
Waldport Public Library |
Lincoln |
$ 4,233.00 |
Warm Springs Community Library |
|
$ 4,101.00 |
Winston Library |
Douglas |
$ 4,190.00 |
Yoncalla Library |
Douglas |
$ 2,422.00 |
TOTAL |
|
$ 381,108.00 |
Examples of eligible costs include, but are not limited to:
*Public libraries will need to verify they are Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) compliant.
If you have questions about eligible costs for these funds, please contact us!
The same guidance used for Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) subgrants for allowable costs will apply to CARES Act subgrants. This is not an exhaustive list of costs that are not allowed - please see more examples here.
Any public-facing information or resources purchases with these grants should include an acknowledgement of funding source similar to the following statement:
Please contact Ross Fuqua, Data & Federal Programs Consultant, State Library of Oregon, at ross.fuqua@slo.oregon.gov.