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G2S Project Code: 2021-OK-90426
State: Oklahoma
Fiscal Year: 2021

Grantee
OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARIES

Project Director
Director Name: Tara McCleod
Director Phone: 405-522-3317
Director Email: tara.mccleod@libraries.ok.gov

General Information
Title: ARPA Targeted Grants
State Project Code: ARPA GRANTS
Start Date: 04/08/2021
End Date: 02/28/2023
Abstract: The Oklahoma Department of Libraries (ODL) offered Targeted Grants to public libraries, literacy organizations, tribal libraries, museums and tribal cultural centers for the purpose of meeting ARPA Spending Priorities 1, 2 and 3. Specifically, this project is meant to assist with mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and to prepare for future emergency situations. Eligible organizations were invited to apply for the grant. Requests were reviewed by ODL staff to ensure the proposed expenditures met the IMLS ARPA spending priorities. Awardees were able to purchase items that were of most importance to their organization and allowed them to protect the public and provide continued services during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
State Goal: Goal 2: Institutional Capacity

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$1,941,797.83

$0.00

$1,941,797.83

Intent(s)
Improve library operations.
Library Infrastructure & Capacity
Other

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Targeted Grants to Public Libraries
Narrative: The Oklahoma Department of Libraries (ODL) distributed targeted grants to 93 municipal libraries and 8 library systems. While the initial funding for each site was determined by a formula (similar to the one ODL uses to calculate state aid payments), libraries had to submit an application detailing how they would use the funding. Libraries were also welcome to request additional funding and those requests were honored when possible. Libraries had ten spending categories: collections/materials (either available digitally and/or focused on workforce development, healthcare and education needs), marketing, connectivity/devices, emergency preparedness, furniture (easily sanitized and moveable to encourage social distancing), network enhancements, other technology, personal protective equipment, security measures, and staffing. Libraries were tasked with reflecting on their pain points during the pandemic and how those could be addressed as well as planning for future emergencies.

While many libraries purchased similar items (OverDrive titles, hotspots, easily sanitized and moveable furniture, and PPE), some libraries were creative in their approach to spending the funds. For example, the Donald W. Reynolds Library and Community Center in Durant purchased equipment to create an outdoor classroom. The items purchased included an outdoor kitchen for cooking programs, carts for moving programming materials outdoors and a portable PA system. They also purchased a solar charging bench.

The Ada Public Library used some of their funds to purchase a Smiota locker system, which allowed library users to pick up holds outside of the building. The Miami Public Library purchased a self-check station to limit face-to-face interactions when transmission rates were high. The Elk City Carnegie Library purchased an Aurora-Solar Trellis to allow library users to sit more comfortably outdoors, charge their devices and access the library's wi-fi.

After the initial grants were distributed, fourteen libraries received additional funding to reimburse the library for pandemic-related purchases. Total funding distributed to public libraries was $1,522,669.79.
Intent: Improve library operations.

Activity: Content
Mode: Other
Format: Combined physical & digital
Other: Grant funds were used to purchase physical/digital collection materials, PPE, network enhancement, furniture that was easily sanitized, staffing, emergency preparedness and connectivity/devices (hotspots, laptops, tablets, computers).

Quantity

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: Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population: General

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types

Public Libraries: 101
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Question 1: I am satisfied that the resource is meeting library needs.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: Applying the resource will help improve library services to the public.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0

Activity Details
Title: Targeted Grants to Literacy Organizations
Narrative: Literacy organizations experienced significant impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many organizations met regularly face-to-face with their students, which was not possible during the pandemic. Furthermore, adult literacy students are typically low-income, which means they had little to no access to remote connectivity devices nor did they have access to tablets, laptops or computers. The Targeted Grants to Literacy Organizations grant attempted to assist literacy organizations in rebuilding after the closures of 2020. Literacy organizations were invited to apply and were able to request funding for items in eight categories: staffing, marketing, instructional materials, connectivity/devices, furniture, network enhancements, other technology and personal protective equipment. Fourteen organizations received funding. The majority of funding was used on staffing purposes to restart the literacy programs in their areas. Total funding to literacy organizations was $92,685.

Intent: Improve library operations.

Activity: Content
Mode: Other
Format: Combined physical & digital
Other: Staffing, instructional materials (including subscriptions, licenses, and testing), hotspots, external hard drives, internet access, personal protective equipment.

Quantity

Partner Information

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: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types

Public Libraries: 0
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 14

Activity Details
Title: Targeted Grants to Tribal Libraries, Museums and Tribal Cultural Centers
Narrative: The third round of targeted grants was offered to tribal libraries, museums and tribal cultural centers in Oklahoma. The grants had the same spending categories as the Targeted Grants to Libraries, with the exception that some categories were not available for museums (connectivity/devices, collection/materials, and certain security measures). Forty-nine organizations applied and ODL awarded targeted grants to 48. The grants requested funds for staffing, PPE, digital signage, digitization projects, easily sanitized and moveable furniture, iPads, video conferencing equipment, archival materials and more. Total funding distributed to tribal libraries, museums and tribal cultural centers was $326,443.34. Some of the more innovative requests included the request from Standing Bear Native American Foundation, which created a website and a virtual tour of the Standing Bear Museum and Education Center (Ponca City). Previously, the Standing Bear Museum did not have a website. This project allows the museum to continue its mission of sharing the story of Standing Bear even when the museum is closed. The Chisholm Trail Museum in Kingfisher utilized the funding to update their meeting space technology to better serve the needs of their community, allow participation in digital meetings, and provide staff with the necessary technology for digital programming. Har-Ber Village Museum in Grove chose to implement a handheld audio tour of the museum, which gave them the ability to practice social distancing while still sharing information about the museum's exhibits. The handheld audio devices were used by more than 10,000 patrons in 2022. Of the original 48 awards granted, one of the sites was unable to spend the funds in the time allotted and returned the funds to ODL. Five other sites returned some of their funds to ODL due to prices decreasing between the time the application was submitted and the time the funds were in the hands of the awardees.
Intent: Improve library operations.

Activity: Content
Mode: Other
Format: Combined physical & digital
Other: Funds were used to digitize collections, securely preserve and house collections, easily sanitized and moveable furniture, handheld devices to encourage interaction while practicing social distancing, sound systems, video equipment and more.

Quantity

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 0
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 3
School Libraries: 0
Other: 44

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
The COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. While these organizations had cleaning procedures in place prior to the pandemic, they were not prepared for a worldwide, highly virulent disease that necessitated weeks-long closures. The Targeted Grants allowed those organizations to review their pandemic response and purchase supplies to address public health protocols while continuing to serve their communities.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Many of the organizations chose to update their furniture to pieces that could be easily sanitized or moved to allow for social distancing. Beyond furniture and PPE, another popular purchase was technology. In particular, libraries focused their technology purchases on hotspots, laptops, tablets and wi-fi extenders. We are planning to offer more technology-related grants in the future to allow libraries to maintain fast, reliable internet access and service to their communities.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Supply chain issues affected almost every awarded applicant in some form or fashion. There wasn't much to do except be patient or pivot and change the planned purchase to something else.
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: No
Exemplary Narrative

Project Tags: targeted grants, grants