Overview
The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation has allocated $200,000 to be distributed through the Municipal Affairs Public Library Services Branch (PLSB) as a grant program.
The purpose of this one-time grant program is to support public library boards in rural areas to strengthen their services and programs to support communities in becoming resilient and sustainable.
The grant is intended to support initiatives in rural public libraries that promote:
- digital literacy, including basic computer skills, cyber security and fraud detection, and evaluating online information effectively
- employment and job skills development, including resume writing, job interviewing, and career exploration
- support for new Canadians, such as citizenship supports, English language learning, employment supports and welcoming communities
Funding
- This is a one-time grant program with a total budget of $200,000.
- Grants have been awarded in amounts of $5,000, $10,000 and $25,000. The total number of recipients was dependent on the number of applicants and the amounts applied for.
- This is one-time project funding that is separate from PLSB’s annual operating grant funds and is awarded using a process separate from the operating grant application process.
Grant recipients
The following library boards were selected from the 31 applications received:
| Library Board | Name of Initiative | Brief Description |
|---|---|---|
| City of Camrose Library Board | Welcome to Camrose | A weekly drop-in program that acts as an orientation to the community as well as English as Second Language classes. |
| City of Cold Lake Library Board | A Friendly Station for Newcomers at Cold Lake Public Library | The initiative is to install an exclusive station where newcomers to Cold Lake can access useful resources. |
| Town of Drayton Valley Library Board | Drayton Valley Newcomer Support | Partner with community organizations to be an essential newcomer hub in the community. |
| Town of Fort Macleod Library Board | Amp it Up! Digital Skills & Crush It - How to Get Hired Series | Two-part series program. The first series teaches basic device skills and digital skills, and the second series is job skills related. |
| Frog Lake First Nation Library Board | Preserving Our Elders Wisdom | A dedicated cultural hub for Indigenous knowledge and heritage to enhance the archival and library services at Frog Lake Public Library and Archives. |
| Town of Hanna Library Board | Library of Things Expansion | Expanding a collection of items for the citizens of the community to use. |
| Town of High Level Library Board | Welcoming New Canadians | Programs for new Canadians to improve language skills and cultural programming. |
| Kainai Library Board | Historical Land and Ranch Operations on the Blood Tribe | Connecting Elders and Tribal members to the digital world through video storytelling and written word. This project will expand the library as a cultural hub in the community. |
| Lac Ste Anne County Library Board | Adulting 101: Learning for a Positive Future | Program for area youth that is geared towards teaching employment, digital literacy and mental health skills to prepare them for new responsibilities as they age. |
| City of Lloydminster Library Board | Building Capacity One Website at a Time | This program provides community members with free classes to increase their understanding of website design and editing. |
| Town of Peace River Library Board | Newcomer Nexus | This initiative increases capacity to serve new Canadians in the community with bilingual titles and community gatherings. |
| Town of Provost Library Board | Training Week - Technology and Employment Skills | Weekly training programs aimed at digital literacy. |
| Town of Rimbey Library Board | Skills Development Series | Workshops for community focusing on digital skills. |
| Summer Village of Seba Beach Library Board | What Grows Here | Gardening workshops that tie in online literacy and digital skill development. |
| Town of Smoky Lake Library Board | Employment and Citizenship Support | After hours digital literacy instruction. |
| Town of St. Paul Library Board | Digital Literacy Instructional Courses | Digital literacy program series. |
| Stettler Library Board | Come for a Byte - Digital Literacy Project | Joint programming between library and adult learning centre to improve digital literacy programming. |
| Town of Stony Plain Library Board | Get Connected: Digital Literacy Courses for Newcomers and Seniors | The library will partner with Tri-Community Adult Learning Association to offer workshops on a variety of topics related to digital literacy. |
| Town of Thorsby Library Board | English Language Support for Newcomers | Conversational English classes and support materials for new Canadians. |
| Yellowhead County Library Board | General Adult Education Credential Coaching | Coaching to help community members further their education and advance in their careers with the forthcoming Canadian Adult Education Credential. |
Contact
Connect with the Public Library Services Branch:
Phone: 780-427-4871
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]
Address:
17th Floor, Commerce Place
10155 102 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4L4