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The Challenge
In places with limited access to Internet connectivity, social services, and cultural enrichment, public libraries are a hub for education and community-building. But these libraries face continual challenges. Rural libraries make up 77% of libraries but don’t have sufficient staffing, meaning they can be limited in how they meet their constituents’ needs. Additionally, they’re at the mercy of federal funding and may not always have the resources to apply for grants, leading some of these already small libraries to cut services or shut down altogether.
Funding Solution
For more than 40 years, the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) has represented library professionals serving communities across North America. ARSL provides advocacy, networking, and continuing educational opportunities for its members. The Manton Foundation recognized that communities benefit from their rural and small libraries, along with the fact that they lacked the capacity and expertise to help fund them effectively. In order to provide the appropriate support to these libraries, they tapped into the expertise of the ARSL network. With their guidance, the Manton Foundation invested $1.4 million in ARSL’s New England projects that provided critical infrastructure and service improvements.
The Impact
The Manton Foundation’s funding was a textbook example of the impact of their pragmatic funding approach. The capital improvements for these libraries—such as ADA accessibility upgrades, heating and air conditioning upgrades, and LED lighting conversions—tangibly enhanced how these libraries could serve people. Other grants helped support community-driven programs, including food security initiatives, garden projects, and sustainability-focused events. Thanks to this funding, more libraries were able to offer their essential services while adapting to their communities’ changing needs.
