Humanities Grants for Libraries

FAIN: ZOR-283669-21

ALA (Chicago, IL 60611-2729)
Deborah Robertson (Project Director: May 2021 to October 2021)
Sarah Ostman (Project Director: October 2021 to present)

A grantmaking program resulting in 200 subawards to provide relief to libraries recovering from the coronavirus pandemic, especially in rural and/or historically underserved communities.

The American Library Association (ALA) requests $2,221,576 in NEH American Rescue Plan: Humanities Grantmaking funding to provide libraries the support they need to reaffirm and strengthen their roles, post-pandemic, as vibrant centers of humanities learning, conversation, and connection. With this funding, ALA plans to distribute $2 million in subawards to 200 public, academic, school, tribal, prison, and special libraries, serving a broad range of communities across the U.S.

Media Coverage

Podcasting To Preserve: Stories from the Bowen Building (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Hannah Arata
Publication: Programming Librarian
Date: 9/22/2022
Abstract: Funded by ALA’s American Rescue Plan: Humanities Grants for Libraries, Alpha Park Public Library’s “Stories from the Bowen Building” dives into the fascinating history of the Peoria State Hospital, which closed in 1973. “We didn’t set out to shine a light on mental health,” Grzesiak says, “but with mental health being such an important topic right now, the podcast project couldn’t have come at a better time.”
URL: https://programminglibrarian.org/articles/podcasting-preserve-stories-bowen-building

A Library for Firefighters: Teaching Fire Literacy Through Reading and Discussion (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Hannah Arata
Publication: Programming Librarian
Date: 6/7/2022
Abstract: The Illinois Fire Service Institute Library (IFSI Library) in Champaign, Illinois, provides fire and emergency library and information assistance to the Fire Institute’s instructional staff, students and over 1,000 Illinois fire departments and 42,000 Illinois firefighters. Founded in 1990 by Head Librarian Lian Ruan, the library provides unique resources to a highly specialized community. Through ALA’s American Rescue Plan: Humanities Grants for Libraries, the library is creating the Children Fire Safety Literacy Reading and Discussion Program. The program, which can be implemented by Illinois fire departments, uses history, biography and fiction to teach children in their community about fire safety. The library is currently cataloging 80 new books that can be loaned out to fire departments statewide for firefighters to read and discuss with youth.

Lore of the Land: A Look at the Culture of Nebraska and Its People (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Samantha Rundle
Publication: Programming Librarian
Date: 11/16/2022
Abstract: Lore of the Land was a speaker series at Hastings Public Library made up of 12 sessions. Each session focused on the cultural, historical and musical events that formed the state of Nebraska.
URL: https://programminglibrarian.org/programs/lore-land-look-culture-nebraska-and-its-people

A New Mechanism for Dialogue: Virtual Reality Programs in Academic Libraries (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Hannah Arata
Publication: Programming Librarian
Date: 5/17/2022
Abstract: Virtual reality (VR) has popped up in many libraries in recent years, sparking everything from senior-focused programs to virtual travel experiences to tween and teen STEAM programs. Using a headset, such as the Oculus, allows participants to immerse themselves into new worlds and experiences. In an academic library, VR can enhance educational takeaways from historical and cultural events and tie into curriculum. Hannah Arata spoke with Whitfield about how VR programs are helping her academic library reconnect with students post-pandemic, how to connect VR to curriculum, and the logistics of maintaining such technology.
URL: https://programminglibrarian.org/articles/new-mechanism-dialogue-virtual-reality-programs-academic-libraries