<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Hello all!</p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Stair District Library started off 2021 with fantastic news. We
are one of 200 libraries selected to receive a grant through <a href="http://www.ala.org/tools/librariestransform/libraries-transforming-communities/focusgrants" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">Libraries
Transforming Communities (LTC): Focus on Small & Rural Libraries</a>, an
initiative of the American Library Association (ALA).<u><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)"></span></u></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">ALA recently opened a second round of LTC applications, and I highly
encourage you to apply!</p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><a href="http://www.ala.org/tools/librariestransform/libraries-transforming-communities/focusgrants" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">LTC: Focus
on Small & Rural Libraries</a> is a grant for those of us in small
and rural communities to get funding to help us address issues of concern
in our communities. </p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="background:rgb(254,254,254)">Participating
libraries receive training in how to lead conversations through a </span><a href="http://www.ala.org/tools/librariestransform/libraries-transforming-communities/online-learning" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)"><span style="color:rgb(51,122,183);border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in;background:rgb(254,254,254)">free ALA e-course</span></a><span style="color:rgb(73,73,73);background:rgb(254,254,254)"> </span><span style="background:rgb(254,254,254)">on basic facilitation skills;
host at least one conversation (in-person or virtual) 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.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For our grant, we will lead discussions related to the recent
closure of our award-winning community newspaper. The title of our discussion
series is “Extra! Extra! Read All About It!...But Where?” </p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">ALA has 450 more grants to give out in this second round! You can
read more about the project in this <a href="http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2021/01/ala-awards-community-engagement-grants-200-smallrural-libraries-invites" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">press
release</a> or in the <a href="http://www.ala.org/tools/librariestransform/libraries-transforming-communities/focusgrants/guidelines" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">project
guidelines</a>. Applications close on March 4.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Let me know if you have any questions about the application
process and I’ll happily lend you some insight. You can also email <a href="mailto:publicprograms@ala.org" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">publicprograms@ala.org</a> with any
questions.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It's a great opportunity; I hope you apply!</p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Colleen</p></div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">Colleen Leddy, Director<div>Stair District Library</div><div>228 W. Main St.</div><div>Morenci, MI 49256</div><div>517.458.6510</div><div><a href="http://stairlib.org" target="_blank">stairlib.org</a></div></div></div></div></div>