The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) provided the New York State Library with $1,757,794 in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds through the LSTA Grants to States Program. The State Library allocated $1,409,357 of these federal funds to New York State’s 23 public library systems.
The table below details the projects that were completed as part of the CARES Act Library Program Projects 2020-21.
| Entity Name | Allocation | Project Title | Counties Served | Final Project Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn Public Library | $133,809 | Virtual Library Services & Programming Technology | Kings | Purchased laptops, allowing library staff to offer over 900 virtual programs per month. |
| Buffalo & Erie County Public Library | $64,615 | Expansion of Digital Access to Library Services and Materials | Erie | Increased outreach of library services by increasing availability of eBooks and eAudiobooks and expanding outdoor Wi-Fi connectivity at 5 branch libraries. |
| Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System | $33,902 | Advancing Technology for Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties | Chautauqua, Cattaraugus | Increased internet acess to member library locations by purchasing Wi-Fi access points and related equipment and paying for internet service. In addition, the inventory of eBooks and eAudiobooks was increased. |
| Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System | $32,078 | Staff efficiencies and an increase in electronic media | Clinton, Essex, Franklin | Increased digital access to library materials by upgrading devices, and expanding inventory of eBooks and eAudiobooks. In addition, improved payroll and HR processes were provided for library staff. |
| Finger Lakes Library System | $38,356 | Finger Lakes Library System COVID-19 Prevention, Preparation and Response | Cayuga, Cortland, Seneca, Tioga, and Tompkins | Purchased materials and services to help safely reopen the libraries. These included PPE, cleaning supplies and services, signage, and supplies to use in curbside pickup and for quaranting materials. In addition, virtual meeting platform licenses were purchased to facilitate library programs and meetings. |
| Four County Library System | $40,277 | COVID Response & WiFi Expansion | Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego | Increased access to Wi-Fi and virtual services at member libraries by purchasing and providing additional devices to member library staff, as well as instituting online library card registrations and remote staff access to the library catalog. In addition, cleaning supplies were purchased and air quality upgrades were made to the system building. |
| Mid York Library System | $40,780 | Expanded opportunities through a multi-system partnership and improving access to library resources diminished by Covid-19 | Herkimer, Madison, Oneida | Increased digital resources by purchasing eBooks and eAudiobooks, upgraded digital equipment for virtual programs, provided specialized training for staff members, purchased new supplies for material delivery and quarantine, and purchased equipment for staff to work remotely. |
| Mid-Hudson Library System | $52,905 | Pivoting to Respond During COVID-19 | Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Putnam, Northern Ulster counties | Assisted member libraries in providing increased services by adding software applications and equipment to extend remote capacity of MHLS staff, providing policy templates, increasing professional development opportunities for staff members, and providing system staff with PPE and cleaning supplies to support a safer work environment. |
| Mohawk Valley Library System | $37,306 | COVID response for MVLS and SALS Joint Automation Project | Fulton, Montgomery, Schenectady, Schoharie | In partnership with Southern Adirondack Library System, assisted all member libraries with remote technical support. |
| Monroe County Library System | $56,991 | MCLS COVID-19 Response | Monroe | Increased access to eBooks and eAudiobooks and enabled member library staff to work remotely. |
| Nassau Library System | $82,964 | Expanded Public Wifi Access | Nassau | Purchased outdoor wireless access points for public library facilities and other public locations throughout Nassau County, and purchased PPE for use by library staff and patrons. |
| Nioga Library System | $38,449 | Navigating the Impact of Covid | Genesee, Niagra, Orleans | Purchased PPE supplies, provided digital resources about COVID, enhanced existing digital resources, purchased virtual meeting platform licenses, and provided mini-grants to member libraries for COVID-related supplies. |
| North Country Library System | $40,977 | COVID Response in North Country Libraries | Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, St. Lawrence | Upgraded equipment to facilitate telecommuting for system staff, created web templates for member libraries, along with website training and support, purchased PPE supplies, and purchased an outdoor movie theatre kit to allow for safe programming for patrons at member libraries. |
| NY Public Library Astor, Lenox Tilde | $174,611 | Supplies and Materials for Environmental Health and Safety at NYPL | Bronx, New York, Richmond | Supported the purchase of portable air cleaning systems for library buildings. |
| Onondaga County Public Library | $44,890 | Outside Wifi for Syracuse Branch Libraries | Onondaga | Purchased materials and software to expand Wi-Fi services for member libraries in order to serve their patrons more effectively, and purchased equipment for virtual programming and to enable staff to work remotely. |
| Pioneer Library System | $38,005 | Digital Inclusion & COVID-19 Response Mini-Grants | Livingston, Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming | Provided member libraries mini-grants to purchase equipment for staff to work remotely; devices and hotspots to lend to patrons; technology and supplies for virtual and outdoor programming; PPE, cleaning supplies and air filtration; and expanded online content for library collections. |
| Queens Borough Public Library | $121,853 | Queens Borough Public Library (QBPL) COVID-19 Response | Queens | Purchased clear, mobile, self-standing floor and desk wellness screens in order to reopen to patrons. |
| Ramapo-Catskill Library System | $59,566 | Taking Care of People | Orange, Rockland, Sullivan, Southern Ulster counties | Provided mini-grants to member libraries to purchase PPE supplies, to purchase a virtual meeting platform subscription, to provide cleaning services, and to acquire legal advice to help libraries understand labor laws during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| Southern Adirondack Library System | $39,930 | COVID response for MVLS and SALS Joint Automation Project | Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren, Washington | In partnership with Mohawk Valley Library System, assisted all member libraries with remote technical support. |
| Southern Tier Library System | $36,748 | STLS Expansion of Free WiFi Internet to Public Spaces | Allegany, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Yates | Increased Wi-Fi access by purchasing internet access points to expand wireless service at 23 public libraries in Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben counties. |
| Suffolk Cooperative Library System | $89,676 | COVID Disaster Mitigation Materials For Suffolk Public Libraries | Suffolk | Purchased PPE supplies for member library staff in order to adhere to state recommended pandemic safety protocols. |
| Upper Hudson Library System | $44,742 | Public Health Response and Preparedness | Albany, Rensselaer | Purchased PPE supplies for the system and member libraries and a UV light air filtration system for the system building, and added a mobile app to the catalog for self-checkout. |
| Westchester Library System | $65,927 | Library Digital Loaner Program | Westchester | Increased digital inclusion by purchasing digital devices for loan to patrons, and trained library staff in use of the devices, including purchasing virtual meeting platform licenses to hold remote trainings. |