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<p class="MsoNormal">The American Library Association (ALA) is currently accepting applications for Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Focus on Small and Rural Libraries, a grant initiative that will distribute nearly $2 million to libraries.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><b>Learn more:</b> <a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ala.org%2FLTCFocus&data=04%7C01%7Cwhites29%40michigan.gov%7Cca9181a824d340fe18e608d8c1fa42b1%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C0%7C637472627904689622%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=Ei7prhb17r8ytwsgfVqFXQbhhLkjbysmU0%2Bs0ND6l60%3D&reserved=0">
www.ala.org/LTCFocus</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Register for a free pre-application webinar (January 26 – will be recorded):
</b><a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fprogramminglibrarian.org%2Flearn%2Fpre-application-webinar-libraries-transforming-communities-focus-small-and-rural-libraries-0&data=04%7C01%7Cwhites29%40michigan.gov%7Cca9181a824d340fe18e608d8c1fa42b1%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C0%7C637472627904689622%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=QcK6kelVCaGu3ezMc7uueifefdg8HscgqbxUs2MKynw%3D&reserved=0">https://programminglibrarian.org/learn/pre-application-webinar-libraries-transforming-communities-focus-small-and-rural-libraries-0</a><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>For questions, contact:</b> <a href="mailto:publicprograms@ala.org">
publicprograms@ala.org</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Participating libraries will receive training in how to lead conversations, a skill vital to 21st-century librarianship. Library workers will complete a free ALA e-course on basic facilitation skills; host at least one conversation with
community members on a chosen topic; and receive $3,000 to support community engagement efforts. Grant funds may cover a range of expenses, including staff time and collections and technology purchases.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Up to 450 grants will be awarded in Round 2. <b>Library workers may apply online for grant funding by March 4 at
<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ala.org%2FLTCFocus&data=04%7C01%7Cwhites29%40michigan.gov%7Cca9181a824d340fe18e608d8c1fa42b1%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C0%7C637472627904699577%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=7hDSIcFuvL%2Bf0vFR9uXvmeRz9SBZWi9tOxHwy63nE7I%3D&reserved=0">
www.ala.org/LTCFocus</a>. <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">ALA has already distributed 200 LTC: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries grant recipients in Round 1 of the LTC funding initiative. They comprise public, academic, school and tribal libraries representing 43 states.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Below are examples of conversations proposed by the first 200 grant recipients:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">Stair District Library (Morenci, Michigan) will talk with residents about the recent loss of the community’s 150-year-old newspaper in a discussion series called Extra! Extra! Read
All About It!...But Where?.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">Danville High School (Danville, Arkansas) will have an online conversation with students, school staff and residents about the importance of mask-wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">Following a surge in suicides in their agricultural and mining town, staff at Duncan Public Library (Duncan, Arizona) will explore mental health through book and film talks and create
an ongoing community support group called the Brain Support Brigade.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">Neligh Public Library (Neligh, Nebraska) will host online discussions about race for their predominantly white community. The series will kick off with a reading of a historical fiction
title set in nearby Omaha after the 1919 lynching of African American resident Will Brown.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">Olive G. Pettis Memorial Library (Goshen, New Hampshire) will host nonfiction book discussions about nature. The library will also install permanent plaques throughout the region identifying
local flora and fauna with QR codes that residents can scan for more information.<o:p></o:p></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries is offered in partnership with the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">United for Libraries <br>
The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">A division of the American Library Association
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">312-280-2160</span><br>
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ala.org%2Funited&data=04%7C01%7Cwhites29%40michigan.gov%7Cca9181a824d340fe18e608d8c1fa42b1%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C0%7C637472627904699577%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=3xd4yUTXTrRtXt24diMeJ5OfLQwBCMwAvO7nsA6oQBk%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:blue">www.ala.org/united</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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