Nicolet Federated Library System reports on use of two ARPA grants

As announced on January 11, 2022, Nicolet Federated Library System (NFLS) was granted two American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grants: the Library Space and Safety Improvement Grant and the Tribal Library Outreach Program for Community Partnerships.

​NFLS is proud to announce the success of the two grants.

Library Space and Safety Improvement Grant

NFLS, in coordination with Winnefox, Manitowoc-Calumet, and Outagamie Waupaca Library Systems, was awarded $200,000 in grant funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (LS250245OLS21) through the Wisconsin Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant program.
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​NFLS administered the grant, including making all of the purchases and managing the administrative requirements of the grant. This allowed the libraries to take advantage of the funding without having to expend valuable staff time to do so.

​Specifically, the funding provided for improvements to existing library spaces by providing modular furniture, mobile shelving units and meeting room enhancements. The pandemic highlighted the fact that libraries have inflexible furniture and shelving, which prevented restructuring the library space so it could be used in a safe way (e.g. socially distanced).

Learn more about how the Library Space and Safety Improvement Grant was used, including short summaries highlighting the different ways some of the 68 participating libraries used the grant funding.

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Tribal Outreach Program for Community Partnerships

NFLS, in coordination with Northern Waters Library Service, was awarded $190,569 in grant funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (LS250245OLS21) through the Wisconsin Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant program.

The negative economic and social impacts of the pandemic on tribal communities throughout Wisconsin were often greater than other communities experienced. Due to reduced revenues and increased safety concerns, libraries, along with other social services, were drastically cut or eliminated. This left tribal members with nowhere to turn when seeking services or resources. This grant project addressed the need of linking tribal members to a wide variety of services through collaborative efforts between the four tribal public libraries in Wisconsin and their local community partners.

Learn how the Tribal Outreach Program for Community Partnerships Grant was used to establish Outreach Programs at the four libraries, create meeting rooms for remote consultations, and add items like device charging stations and outdoor book drops.

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