Public Library Construction Project Needs Assessment

There are a few opportunities for public library construction funds coming in the near future. The U.S. Treasury Department has funding available to all states via the  Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund.  This possible funding will be determined by the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA). The American Library Association (ALA) will soon be launching the Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities grant opportunity that will offer more than $7 million in grants to small and rural libraries to increase the accessibility of facilities, services, and programs to better serve people with disabilities. creating accessible access to library services. There is also potential to request District Directed federal funding that the Maine State Library is learning more about. The MSL would like to learn more about the current need for funding public library construction projects.  Your answers to the questions below will help us determine the level of funding needed as well as provide you the information about your library's eligibility for some construction funds. A summary by MSL about the possible funding avenues is available to download.

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* 1. Your Name

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* 2. Your Title

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* 3. Library Name

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* 4. County

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* 5. MSL would like to gather some information about the status of  your library's building project. Check all that may apply.

Eligibility Questions: For the U.S. Treasury Capital Project to be eligible for funding through the Capital Projects Fund it must meet all three eligibility requirements in questions 6-8.

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* 6. The Capital Project invests in capital assets designed to directly enable work, education, and health monitoring. (E.g., remodeling a meeting room to provide digital skills programs for patrons to take online courses, get certified for a job, and have a telehealth appointment).

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* 7. The Capital Project is designed to address a critical need that resulted from or was made apparent or exacerbated by the COVID-19 public health emergency. (E.g., have you seen a greater need for access to technology or better digital skills as a result of work, learning, and healthcare going online because of the pandemic?)

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* 8. The Capital Project is designed to address a critical need of the community to be served by it. (E.g., are there few economic opportunities for your patrons? Are there certain demographics in your community who have greater difficulties seeking a degree or receiving needed medical care?)

Libraries are part of the Multi-Purpose Community Facility Projects. These projects are expected to construct or improve buildings that are designed to jointly and directly enable work, education, and health monitoring are eligible for funding under the Capital Projects Fund program. The project would be to construct or improve libraries that provide public access to the internet for purposes including work, education, and health monitoring such as offering digital skills programs and support for community members engaging in virtual learning:

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* 9. My library construction project fits the above description

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* 10. My library construction project includes the following. Please check all that may apply.

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* 11. Please provide estimated costs for your project if known

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* 12. Please provide any additional information that can tell us more about your project

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