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ARRA funding may be possible for city library's vestibule solarium
By Carol Broeder/Arizona Range News
A hoped-for solarium room attached to the library's new entry vestibule may see the light of day if the city receives a grant through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
"The USDA Rural Development agency in Arizona has received funding priority for $100 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) dollars for rural libraries," said Tom Miner, director of the Elsie S. Hogan Community Library.
"We can definitely use some of that money here in Willcox."
In announcing the funding priority for the state's rural libraries, Special Projects Coordinator Dianne Jennings said that funds may be used to "...enlarge or improve public libraries."
"We would like to use the grant to do both - enlarge our facility by approximately 390 square feet (13' x 30') on the east (front) side of the building and provide additional meeting room and recreational, reading, and relaxing space for our patrons and guests, and improve the library's exterior presence by creating a warm, inviting, yet dramatic, visual impact on both our residents and our visitors," Miner said in his Feb. 23 letter to council.
"This can be accomplished fairly inexpensively, by adding a high-quality solarium room attached to the new entry vestibule," he said.
"Keeping our 'eyes on the prize,' our goal is to complete the architectural plans as submitted to you last summer," said Miner, adding that the library's advisory committee had taken on the renovation project as their "fundraising mission."
"This unexpected monetary windfall opportunity may provide the means to accomplish our goal without burdening the Willcox taxpayers any further, and hopefully, the end result will be a wonderful, finished product - a public library the community will be very, very proud of."
"Realizing that public libraries are culturally and technologically critical to the rural communities they serve, the Obama Administration has asked the (USDA's) Rural Development agency to target rural libraries for $100 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars," Jennings said.
The funds are administered through the agency's Community Facilities Program.
She explained, "Although there are challenges in developing library projects (since they are not revenue-gathering entities), the agency hopes to create added interest in library facilities by providing grant funding opportunities that are not typically available."
"Funds may be used to construct, enlarge, or improve public libraries," said Jennings, adding that this "can include costs to acquire land needed for a facility, pay necessary professional fees, and purchase equipment required for operation."
"Libraries can use funds for such things as shelving, furniture, computers, audio-visual equipment and distance learning equipment," said Alan Stephens, state director for USDA Rural Development.
"We can even pay for bookmobiles to get the resources out to even more remote locations."
Stephens encouraged the state's rural libraries to apply for the ARRA funds quickly, as the program is slated to end Sept. 10.
Prior to the unanimous vote at the March 1 meeting, Miner told the council that it is imperative to submit early in the process, "or our chances for receiving these funds are greatly diminished."
"The USDA Rural Development agency in Arizona has received funding priority for $100 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) dollars for rural libraries," said Tom Miner, director of the Elsie S. Hogan Community Library.
"We can definitely use some of that money here in Willcox."
In announcing the funding priority for the state's rural libraries, Special Projects Coordinator Dianne Jennings said that funds may be used to "...enlarge or improve public libraries."
"We would like to use the grant to do both - enlarge our facility by approximately 390 square feet (13' x 30') on the east (front) side of the building and provide additional meeting room and recreational, reading, and relaxing space for our patrons and guests, and improve the library's exterior presence by creating a warm, inviting, yet dramatic, visual impact on both our residents and our visitors," Miner said in his Feb. 23 letter to council.
"This can be accomplished fairly inexpensively, by adding a high-quality solarium room attached to the new entry vestibule," he said.
"Keeping our 'eyes on the prize,' our goal is to complete the architectural plans as submitted to you last summer," said Miner, adding that the library's advisory committee had taken on the renovation project as their "fundraising mission."
"This unexpected monetary windfall opportunity may provide the means to accomplish our goal without burdening the Willcox taxpayers any further, and hopefully, the end result will be a wonderful, finished product - a public library the community will be very, very proud of."
"Realizing that public libraries are culturally and technologically critical to the rural communities they serve, the Obama Administration has asked the (USDA's) Rural Development agency to target rural libraries for $100 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars," Jennings said.
The funds are administered through the agency's Community Facilities Program.
She explained, "Although there are challenges in developing library projects (since they are not revenue-gathering entities), the agency hopes to create added interest in library facilities by providing grant funding opportunities that are not typically available."
"Funds may be used to construct, enlarge, or improve public libraries," said Jennings, adding that this "can include costs to acquire land needed for a facility, pay necessary professional fees, and purchase equipment required for operation."
"Libraries can use funds for such things as shelving, furniture, computers, audio-visual equipment and distance learning equipment," said Alan Stephens, state director for USDA Rural Development.
"We can even pay for bookmobiles to get the resources out to even more remote locations."
Stephens encouraged the state's rural libraries to apply for the ARRA funds quickly, as the program is slated to end Sept. 10.
Prior to the unanimous vote at the March 1 meeting, Miner told the council that it is imperative to submit early in the process, "or our chances for receiving these funds are greatly diminished."
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