NEKLS School Library Covid Relief Grant Program Report

March 2021

From Anna Foote, Youth and School Services Consultant

The results are in! 

The Executive Summary of NEKLS School Library Covid Relief Grant Program is now available. If you are unfamiliar with this program and want to know more, see the Grant Program Summary in the section below.

A few basic facts:
Funding: NEKLS awarded $80,000 in grants
Grants awarded: 41
School Buildings: 51, from 18 school districts
Students: 23,275 benefited
Teachers/Administrators: 1,436 were impacted

Grant Program Summary

After our schools closed down in spring 2020, NEKLS staff and Executive Board recognized a growing need for support for our schools’ libraries and staff. We designed a competitive grant program for school libraries that served any combination of students aged K-12. All applicants were members of Northeast Kansas Library System. 

Schools applied for up to $5,000 in grant funds, which was used to offset the purchase of materials and/or technology to help ease the disruption COVID-19 caused in our education system. 

In awarding grants, the selection committee prioritized three aspects: 

  • e-content (databases and ebooks) 
  • safety (materials for curbside/classroom book delivery, materials quarantine and social distancing)
  • traditional library media (print books) 

For a list of grantees and amounts awarded, see the Executive Summary, linked above.

The Results

I think this program let us truly live our mission, which is: NEKLS inspires and empowers member libraries to engage, educate and add value to their communities.

If you have questions about this program or our services to schools, please contact me—Anna Foote, afoote@nekls.org.