Wait – WHAT?? YES!! Maine DECD [Department of Economic and Community Development] is working with Maine State Library to disburse additional ARPA funds to Maine public libraries.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE:
The application window on these subgrants is coming up fast and will be tight. Fear not! WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU.
YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING:
Are these the same ARPA subgrants that went out a year ago? No. These are additional funds for Maine public libraries.
Okay, but these are still only for programming, right? No. These funds can be used for capital projects, equipment, supplies, even staffing help. There is a stipulation below.*
Well, how much money are we talking about here? $5000 - $100,000 per project. There will be more information coming on this very soon.
Wait, there’s an application? Won’t the funds just be distributed like last time? There will be a competitive application process this time. It will look very much like the application you use for MPLF grants.
Where is the application? The application will be open and available in the next couple months. Please be watching for information on this from me [Lisa Shaw], Deb Clark, and/or Marijke Visser. It is not yet posted.
*FUNDING STIPULATION
Grant funds awarded must be attached to shared work spaces, teleworking, or workforce development projects at your library.
Are you saying I have to use the money for a business center? I don’t have the space or staffing for this. No. You can use this funding for a variety of building, staffing, material, or other ideas. Here is a suggested list, but we also encourage you to use your expertise about your community and library needs. It just needs to be able to tie back to shared work spaces, teleworking, and/or local workforce development:
* ADA accessibility to your building [e.g. ramp, electronic door openers] or within your building to access all parts of the building [e.g. elevator, chair lift, accessible bathroom] for those patrons who use your library to conduct their work in any way
* Proprietary software [e.g. Adobe Suite, Canva, Foundation Center] for patrons who cannot afford to purchase it on their own but need it for their work
* Privacy booths for business, visitation, Zoom meetings, etc.
* Discrete capital funding that is specific to shared work spaces/teleworking for a larger capital project
* Staff that focuses on helping patrons navigate job searches, applications, training offerings [such as Bendable Maine], and/or digital literacy
* Other things that you know are needed but are not mentioned specifically here
Do I need to do anything right now? YES. The major change for sub-grant awardees [which potentially means your library!] is that they must have a SAM.gov Unique Entity ID. This is NOT the same as the DUNS number that was required last time. SAM.gov changed its requirements in April 2022 from DUNS to the Unique Entity ID.
UUGGHH! You mean that I have to go through that whole SAM.gov registration process??!! NO, you do not! [Yay!!] You only need the Unique Entity ID, which is a much shorter process.
PHEW! So how do I do that? The site to do this is here: https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsam.gov%2Fcontent%2Fentity-registration&data=05%7C01%7CLisa.M.Shaw%40maine.gov%7C5757ba0ac203453a1c7d08daffd69392%7C413fa8ab207d4b629bcdea1a8f2f864e%7C0%7C0%7C638103594319838988%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Bc09gP9dFaLw9hefeq0h6PpjnMUMTXlbx3nYeIGQ2aE%3D&reserved=0> There is also a helpful tutorial video [I watched it: It IS actually helpful!] here [total run time about 10 minutes]: <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DC87wSCYKTcE&data=05%7C01%7CLisa.M.Shaw%40maine.gov%7C5757ba0ac203453a1c7d08daffd69392%7C413fa8ab207d4b629bcdea1a8f2f864e%7C0%7C0%7C638103594319838988%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=M7jbVmyr%2FbaKSeYk5mvHDZDm1o46aHUrHYeOlJldTjk%3D&reserved=0> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C87wSCYKTcE
Note that you will also need a State of Maine Vendor Code [VC] number. We already have one for most of the public libraries and we can help you with that if you are unsure of it. If you do not have one, we can help you with that, too!
You said you would help with all this. Did you mean it? Yes.
How will you help? We will have informational Zoom meetings; we will discuss it at statewide meetings, new directors meetings, regional meetings, email reminders, and/or – as always – please reach out to me at any time. My contact information is in my signature below, but if you’re tired of scrolling: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>, (207) 747-8717 (call or text). I’m happy to Zoom with you as well.
Great! So… what do I need to do again?
1. Get your SAM.gov Unique Entity ID ASAP! [The site to do this is here: https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsam.gov%2Fcontent%2Fentity-registration&data=05%7C01%7CLisa.M.Shaw%40maine.gov%7C5757ba0ac203453a1c7d08daffd69392%7C413fa8ab207d4b629bcdea1a8f2f864e%7C0%7C0%7C638103594319838988%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Bc09gP9dFaLw9hefeq0h6PpjnMUMTXlbx3nYeIGQ2aE%3D&reserved=0> There is also a helpful tutorial video [I watched it: It IS actually helpful!] here [total run time about 10 minutes]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C87wSCYKTcE<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DC87wSCYKTcE&data=05%7C01%7CLisa.M.Shaw%40maine.gov%7C5757ba0ac203453a1c7d08daffd69392%7C413fa8ab207d4b629bcdea1a8f2f864e%7C0%7C0%7C638103594319838988%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=M7jbVmyr%2FbaKSeYk5mvHDZDm1o46aHUrHYeOlJldTjk%3D&reserved=0>]
2. Think about what you need to make your library building more accessible and useful to your patrons who work remotely, freelance, need a physical space or resources to work, alone or with others, regardless of their age, type of work, type of needs.
3. Reach out to me or Deb Clark [[log in to unmask]; (207) 233-2193] if you have questions or concerns. Attend any meetings you can such as the Statewide Library meetings and/or regional meetings where this is likely to be discussed.
4. Await further instructions.
Thank you for all you do for the library vocation and for your respective communities!
Lisa M. Shaw
(Pronouns: she/elle/ella/lei/hun/вона/ye/sí/그녀)
Maine State Library – Library Development
Rural & Small Libraries/Workforce Development Specialist
64 State House Station
Augusta ME 04333-0064
(207) 747-8717 (mobile)
[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
https://www.maine.gov/msl/libs/index.shtml
http://www.linkedin.com/in/lisanealshaw/
https://www.ala.org/pla/initiatives/workforce
Current Reads: One of the Girls [Lucy Clarke]
Current Tunes: “I’m Rare” [Lee Minhyuk (aka HUTA)]; “Deja Vu” [ATEEZ]
“When it rains in your heart
I'll take you with me
Don't hang in there, I'll open my umbrella”
[Stray Kids – “Silent Cry”]
Dator’s Law:
“Any useful statement about the future should at first seem ridiculous.”
[Jim Dator]
|
