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G2S Project Code: 2020-UT-86732
State: Utah
Fiscal Year: 2020
Grantee
Utah State Library Division

Project Director
Director Name: Rachel Cook
Director Phone: 801-715-6722
Director Email: rcook@utah.gov
General Information
Title: CARES - Continued Pandemic Response Grant
State Project Code:
Start Date: 03/16/2021
End Date: 09/01/2021
Abstract: The Utah State Library Division decided a phased roll out of CARES dollars would likely be the best approach for our state so we could respond to the pandemic as needs changed. In the final phase of the CARES grant, a mini-grant round for pandemic response was offered to all public libraries in the state. Up to $5000 per grant was available and it could be spent on safety measures, digital inclusion efforts, and other areas of library service that were impacted by the pandemic. These grants, given to 18 libraries, helped Utahns receive library service even with pandemic disruptions. Projects could be completed in seven categories including: PPE, Sanitation and other Safety; Digital Inclusion; Online Program Creation; Youth Services; Virtual Summer Reading Programming; Support for Jobseekers; and Partnerships with Museums or Tribes. At least one project was completed in each category. Things from safe summer reading to take and make kits to hotspots to eBooks were purchased, all in response to individuals communities and their needs.
State Goal: Institutional Capacity
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$61,220.36
$0.00
$17,929.50
$79,149.86
Intent(s)
Improve library operations.
Health & Wellness
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Grant round for pandemic response
Narrative: For libraries that felt they wanted to do an additional project on top of the grant we gave for PPE and digital inclusion, we offered a competitive mini grant round of up to $5,000 for pandemic response. Libraries could apply for funds in seven areas that all were impacted by COVID-19: PPE, Sanitation and other Safety; Digital Inclusion; Online Program Creation; Youth Services; Virtual Summer Reading Programming; Support for Jobseekers; and Partnerships with Museums or Tribes. Applications were selected by a scoring panel of Utah State Library Division employees based on need and potential impact.
Intent: Improve library operations.

Activity: Content
Mode: Acquisition
Format: Combined physical & digital


Quantity
Number of hardware acquired: 70
Number of software acquired: 0
Number of licensed databases acquired: 2
Number of print materials (books & government documents) acquired: 4
Number of electronic materials acquired: 1
Number of audio/visual units (audio discs, talking books, other recordings) acquired: 0


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: Yes
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: AMERICAN FORK CITY LIBRARY
Address: 64 SOUTH 100 EAST
City: AMERICAN FORK
State: UT
Zip: 84003
Name: BEAVER PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 55 WEST CENTER STREET
City: BEAVER
State: UT
Zip: 84713
Name: DAVIS COUNTY LIBRARY
Address: 38 SOUTH 100 EAST
City: FARMINGTON
State: UT
Zip: 84025
Name: DUCHESNE COUNTY LIBRARY
Address: 130 S CENTER STREET
City: DUCHESNE
State: UT
Zip: 84021
Name: EMERY COUNTY LIBRARY
Address: 145 NORTH 1ST EAST
City: CASTLE DALE
State: UT
Zip: 84513
Name: EPHRAIM PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 30 SOUTH MAIN STREET
City: EPHRAIM
State: UT
Zip: 84627
Name: GRAND COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 257 EAST CENTER ST
City: MOAB
State: UT
Zip: 84532
Name: HIGHLAND CITY LIBRARY
Address: 5400 W CIVIC CENTER DR, SUITE 2
City: HIGHLAND
State: UT
Zip: 84003
Name: MORGAN COUNTY LIBRARY
Address: 50 NORTH 100 WEST
City: MORGAN
State: UT
Zip: 84050
Name: NEPHI PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 21 EAST 100 NORTH
City: NEPHI
State: UT
Zip: 84648
Name: RICHMOND PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 38 WEST MAIN STREET
City: RICHMOND
State: UT
Zip: 84333
Name: SALEM CITY LIBRARY
Address: 59 SOUTH MAIN STREET
City: SALEM
State: UT
Zip: 84653
Name: SALT LAKE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM
Address: 2197 EAST FORT UNION BLVD.
City: SALT LAKE CITY
State: UT
Zip: 84121
Name: SAN JUAN COUNTY LIBRARY
Address: 25 WEST 300 SOUTH
City: BLANDING
State: UT
Zip: 84511
Name: SANTAQUIN CITY LIBRARY
Address: 20 WEST 100 SOUTH
City: SANTAQUIN
State: UT
Zip: 84655
Name: SMITHFIELD LIBRARY
Address: 25 NORTH MAIN STREET
City: SMITHFIELD
State: UT
Zip: 84335
Name: SPRINGVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 50 SOUTH MAIN STREET
City: SPRINGVILLE
State: UT
Zip: 84663
Name: TOOELE CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 128 WEST VINE STREET
City: TOOELE
State: UT
Zip: 84074
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
100% of grant recipients agreed that this grant allowed them to better meet patron needs and 72.2% of grant recipients agreed that this grant allowed them to better meet staff needs. All participants also agreed that this project had a positive impact on their library and observed a positive impact on staff's ability to serve patrons. Reading through the benefits of these projects, all libraries were able to serve groups in their communities that were hurting from the pandemic, especially children and teens. Stories of people who could access a laptop before an important meeting or who were able to be transformed through at home art programming brought to light the impact that libraries had during the pandemic. "Lots of patrons have come to thank the staff for the programs and expressed how much our programs helped their family cope with the pandemic." Many of the projects were inspiring. One library even put together kits for Memory Care patients in a local assisted living center who could no longer attend the library or have programming brought to them. The kits had a very positive impact on those patients, leveraging nostalgia to improve mood and memory. Another library partnered with the Utah Navajo Health System at their Teddy Bear clinic to give book-based Take and Make Kits to kids 0-18. They created over 300 kits that centered around a book, may of them written by native authors. Kids could then have a library program experience in the safety of their home. The library director said "It was seriously like Christmas." Another grantee had this to share: "As a result of the pandemic, internet access has become a necessity. This was a particular challenge for elderly members of the community who could not afford the access necessary to attend church or visit with family members virtually. The hotspot lending program that we were able to initiate with this grant has been received with excitement, and some disbelief. Patrons can't believe that the library provides them internet access for free. Where our services have historically been considered a nice luxury, this funding allowed us to meet a true need in the community, and to demonstrate the library's relevance and capability to serve."
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Something we found through this grant was that libraries had a niche in offering services to the community that they might not be getting other places - connection, release, escape, and digital resources that are absolutely crucial to functioning in today's society. We also found that libraries can make real impact for groups in their community when they partner with them.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Providing a grant round instead of dictated uses for the funds allowed for better local service. With that, ensure you have the capacity to manage a grant round effectively.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
No
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
No
Explain:

Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
No
Explain:

Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
No
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
No
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Third-Party
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:
Exemplary: Yes
Exemplary NarrativeNot all of the projects are completely represented in the text of this report, but many of the projects really showed the power of the library as a community resource. The LSTA coordinator was very pleased with the types of projects that came out of this grant round.
Project Tags: Pandemic response, PPE, digital inclusion