This year is a tough one for our member libraries. The pandemic is causing all kinds of trouble for good library service in a lot of ways.

We can’t fix most of that for you. Sorry.

But, we can offer to help you with some of your more immediate needs. And one of those more immediate needs is money for supplies, library materials, programs, or other important services for your patrons.

For this school year only, through May, 2021, we will be soliciting minigrant applications from member libraries for funds up to $1,000. This is our Extended Minigrant program, as brought to you by the CMLE Board of Trustees.

You can be pretty flexible in what you apply to use these grants to fund in the library. Programs, materials, services – the three hallmarks of a good library – are all accessible with this money.

Potential mingrant applications that we would like to see would include requests like:

• filling in a hole in your collection budget
• buying software that will let you do distance library service
• bringing a virtual program, or program series, to your students

Fill out one of our applications.

We will collect the applications, and will have a monthly review of them by a group of CMLE members. Applications will be accepted, rejected, or deferred to a future month for more consideration. We will notify everyone who applies of their status as soon as possible.

(We will not reimburse any money spent prior to notification that you have been awarded a grant. So you may want to wait until an official notification!)

We know this is going to be a hard year for everyone, and we want to work with you to help you continue to provide the best library service possible.

If you have any questions, or want to chat by email or on a Zoom, just email us any time. We are ready to talk about the minigrants or other library, any time.