The Orange County Public Library has been awarded a $50,000 grant to expand children’s outreach efforts in northern and western rural Orange County. Grant funds come from the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (IMLS grant number LS-00-19-0034-19).
These federal funds are investments that help libraries deliver relevant and up-to-date services for their communities. With the LSTA grant, the library will increase access to library services for children and their families, provide outreach to community centers, schools, and other community organizations that serve children and families with a focus on children from birth to age 8.
“We recognize that getting to the library can be difficult for many families," said Library Director Lucinda Munger. “This grant will allow us to take library materials and programs to families that live in underserved areas of the county. Some of these children are the very individuals who struggle with succeeding in school. By getting services to young families, we hope to impact success in school and to promote a love of learning.”
The Orange County Public Library received one of the 43 competitive grants for fiscal year 2019-2020 awarded to North Carolina libraries from this year’s federal allotment of $4,676,190. The LSTA grant program administered by the State Library of North Carolina funds library projects across the state that advance excellence and promote equity by strengthening capacity, expanding access, and community engagement in North Carolina’s libraries.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. Through the LSTA Grants to States program, IMLS provides funds to State Library agencies using a population-based formula. State libraries may use the appropriation to support statewide initiatives and services; they may also distribute the funds through competitive subgrants to public and academic libraries. 
To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.
For more information about North Carolina’s LSTA program visit the State Library of North Carolina’s LSTA web page at http://statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/ld/resources/lsta-grants or contact the State Library’s Federal Programs Consultant at 919-807-7423.
The Orange County Public Library has three locations. The Main Library is located at 137 W. Margaret Lane in downtown Hillsborough. The Carrboro Branch is located inside McDougle Middle School, 900 Old Fayetteville Road in Chapel Hill. The Cybrary is located at The Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro Street, Carrboro. Free parking is available at all library locations. For library hours of operation and complete service and program information, please visit www.OrangeCountyLibrary.org
