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G2S Project Code: 2021-NE-88350
State: Nebraska
Fiscal Year: 2021
Grantee
AINSWORTH PUBLIC LIBRARY

Project Director
Director Name: Gail Irwin
Director Phone: 402-387-2032
Director Email: aplibrary@threeriver.net
General Information
Title: ARPA Formula Grant: Ainsworth PL
State Project Code:
Start Date: 10/01/2020
End Date: 09/30/2022
Abstract: From sub-recipient: The library used the Formula Grant funds to purchase items to assist in the Covid-19 pandemic and recovery in the areas of public health protocols, social/physical distancing measures to optimize outdoor spaces, and to increase our collection to bring more people in to the library. The library used a total of $725.91 on public health protocols by purchasing a UV Sterilizer with claw holder and two replacement lamps; a hand sanitizer dispenser and gel; two foam soap dispensers with drip trays for the rest rooms plus antibacterial foam soap; and C batteries to use in the dispensers. A total of $1,708.72 was used for social/physical distancing measures to optimize outdoor spaces. We purchased a 10’x10’ Pop Up Canopy; a folding table for indoor/outdoor use; a tech mobile power tower for indoor/outdoor use for electrical items; and an Epson projector to show computer images/text/movies outside as well as inside the building. A total of $1,785.25 was spent on collection development with materials for the different age groups of our patrons. We used the grant to purchase 31 board books for the little ones; 4 Spanish/English bilingual books; 20 books with CDs for the children; 3 audio books for the adults; 61 DVD movies/TV shows; plus 7 Book Club Kits with eight copies each for our Book Discussion Group.

State Goal: Sustainability of Library Programs and Services
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$4,196.00
$0.00
$0.00
$4,196.00
Intent(s)
Improve library's physical and technology infrastructure.
Buildings & Facilities
Collection Development & Management
Activities
Activity Details
Title: ARPA Formula Grant: Ainsworth PL
Narrative: From sub-recipient: Recovering from the pandemic, we could not help but notice that our door count was much lower than before 2019. We had less people coming into the library. We wanted to bring people back to the library and check out more library materials. We purchased formats which our library did not have a lot of or in areas that we needed new fresh materials.
Intent: Improve library's physical and technology infrastructure.

Activity: Procurement
Mode:
Format:


Quantity
Number of equipment acquired: 0
Number of acquired equipment used: 0
Number of hardware items acquired: 1
Number of acquired hardware items used: 1
Number of software items acquired: 0
Number of acquired software items used: 0
Number of materials/supplies acquired: 7
Number of acquired materials/supplies used: 7


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
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: AINSWORTH PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 445 NORTH MAIN STREET
City: AINSWORTH
State: NE
Zip: 69210
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
From sub-recipient: The most important outcome of this project was the safety and health of our patrons. We provided a way for them to clean their hands coming and going from the library with foam soap in the rest rooms and hand sanitizer by the front door. The UV Sterilizer was a great help in keeping keyboards/mouse on computers and all the library materials coming back to the library germ free. The use of outdoor spaces was also addressed with the purchase of a canopy for story times and other programs outside. We purchased a folding table to use in the canopy to hold supplies or to work on. A mobile power tower with wheels was used to plug into the outside power outlet to provide electrical power to equipment such as computers, speakers, etc. We already had a moveable screen that we could use outside, so we acquired a projector to be used outside for Storytime, meetings, movies, or other programs. Another important outcome was to get the public back to the library. By holding outside programs, we could have people come and still feel safe. The new library materials are inviting to the general population, and they want to come and use the new items with their families. DVDs were very popular during Covid-19, and we needed to get new titles in. We felt that the read-along-stories with CD would reach a large group and help children with reading skills. Board books are popular with the very young and helps create the love of reading throughout their lives. We have a large number of Spanish families use the library and we purchased bilingual books to help teach them English. The English-speaking families can also use the books to learn Spanish and help in the communication with the Spanish group in our area at work, in stores, or at school. Our Book Discussion Group has problems getting book club kits ordered with titles they are interested in. All the titles the local group wanted were already booked and sometimes for months. The addition of seven new book club kits will be a hit with our readers. No more waiting for certain titles or reading something they really did not have an interest in.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
From sub-recipient: All of these purchases with grant funds are very important to future planning. We don’t’ have a worry so much on people spreading germs as we now have the items to combat that. Books will no longer need to be placed in the back room for days while we wait for the germs to disappear. We now have the UV sterilizer to do that in a matter of hours. That means we can get the library item back into circulation faster. We now have a way to hold programs outside in a safe environment under the canopy. We have a way to use electric devices outside of the library with the use of the power tower. Planning at the library always includes collection development and this grant helped us provide materials for a large number of our population.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
From sub-recipient: I feel that libraries were not prepared for the pandemic. But we showed the community that we could adjust and help them with the needs in a difficult time. We just changed gears somewhat and accomplished a lot for our community. We feel that we now are more prepared for a crisis and know that we can meet the needs of our patrons. We reviewed administrative data and found an increase in door traffic. We used observation by library staff on how the public reacted to our purchases. We are happy to say that more library users are coming to the Library. In the month of May, we had 17 new library users acquire a library card! The materials are being checked out and our circulation totals have increased.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
Yes
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: No
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags: ARPA Formula Grant, outdoor canopy, projector