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Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft awards relief grants to Missouri libraries

Nearly 60 libraries in the state will receive around $1 million to help cover lost revenue and extra costs brought on by the coronavirus.

This week Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft announced the Missouri State Library will soon receive $960,338 in grant funds due to strains brought on by COVID-19.

Around 60 libraries across the state will receive funding, much of which will go toward helping to install updates in libraries in order to make services more safe and accessible to the public while closures remain in place.

“Missouri’s libraries are integral to the communities they serve and the resources they offer are vital,” Ashcroft said. “These funds help our libraries face the unique obstacles presented by the coronavirus so they can continue offering key services and expanding programs for their patrons.”

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) funds and Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds are used to address digital inclusion and related technical support or to address other efforts that prevent, prepare for and respond to COVID-19, reports The Missouri Times.

These projects were supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under CARES and LSTA provisions as administered by the Missouri State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.

The list of libraries receiving funding, a breakdown of how much each location will receive and a description of what the funds will be used toward at each library can be found here.