Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the Union County Library Grants for Children’s Programming and Materials is now open for applications. A total of $150,000 in funding is available in 2016 for public libraries to expand and enhance their services for children.
Now in its second year, the new grant opportunity helps local libraries provide updated programming and resources to meet new and evolving demands for both traditional and non-traditional services.
“The response to the first round of the Library Grants program was overwhelming, and I would like to thank my colleagues on the Freeholder Board for supporting it this year,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “Our population is growing, and new opportunities for learning and enrichment are emerging. Now is the time to dedicate more resources to our local public libraries.”
The 2016 grant amount of $150,000 more than doubles last year’s disbursement.
“Our local libraries welcome all residents to come together, learn from each other, explore our diversity and celebrate our common interests,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, who was instrumental in launching the grant program in 2015. “These new funds will enable our libraries to expand their offerings and continue to attract children for education and personal development, while strengthening our local communities.”
The Library Grants program is funded with non-tax dollars for the benefit of local, non-school libraries. In 2015, the first year of funding, all 20 municipal libraries in Union County received grants for a total of almost $75,000.
Projects eligible for funding include technology upgrades, educational programming, the purchase of books, videos, and audio tapes, the creation or expansion of summer and fall programming, and the development of planning documents.
The Library Grants Program is part of Chairman Bergen’s “Union County at Work and Play” 2016 initiative for countywide economic development and quality of life improvements.
Other elements of the initiative include new small business loans and job opportunities, recreation improvements and events, and advocacy for Union County College.
For more information on all of the 2016 Chairman’s Initiatives visit ucnj.org.
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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.
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