July 29, 2021
For immediate release
Contact: Laura Schiefer
Executive Director, Rochester Regional Library Council
lschiefer@rrlc.org 585.902.2535
Federal Funding for Rochester Area Libraries & Cultural Organizations
(ROCHESTER, NY) – The New York State Education Department announced on Wednesday that $6.2 Million in federal funding is available for libraries and cultural organizations to help address the digital divide. The Rochester Regional Library Council, a multi-type library system serving libraries and culturals in Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, and Wyoming counties, will receive more than $400,000 of this funding.
“This is a welcome influx of funding to help address digital equity and access in the Rochester region,” said Laura Schiefer, Executive Director of the Rochester Regional Library Council. “Access to high speed internet and digital resources is not optional – it is a necessity for everyone in our community. These resources are critical for success in education, for economic development, and for quality of life. We are thankful for this funding to help support collaborative solutions, and we look forward to working with our partners to address the digital divide here in the Rochester region.”
The federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded the $6.2 Million in funding to the New York State Library to help communities respond directly to the pandemic and related economic and community needs. The funds will be used to help establish equitable approaches to digital inclusion and services from all types of libraries and other cultural institutions.
The State Library will allocate more than $5.5 million to the nine regional library councils to implement three priority programs in their regions: advancing digital inclusion, encouraging library/museum partnerships, and expanding student access to digital resources. The regional library councils will collaborate with public library systems, school library systems, and other libraries, museums, and cultural repositories to address New York’s three priority programs and meet federal and state goals.
—–
The Rochester Regional Library Council is a non-profit library system that helps libraries and cultural heritage organizations work together to bring better library and information services to all the people in the five-county Rochester region – Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, and Wyoming counties.
# # #