Stronger Together: Improving Library Access

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The California State Library is pleased to offer Stronger Together: Improving Library Access, a state-funded opportunity that provides grants to local libraries so they can acquire bookmobiles and community outreach vehicles and offer programs that improve library access and program delivery. The purpose of this project is to help libraries eliminate barriers and implement new ways to bring literacy, technology and other services to those who face challenges visiting their local public library. When Californians lack transportation, live far from their library, or work long hours, mobile libraries and expanded program delivery make it possible to access library services and programs.

Grantees

Below is a list of the current Stronger Together: Improving Library Access grantee organizations and their projects.

Grantee Organization	Project Name
City of Pleasanton	Ptown on the Go!
City of San Diego	Access in Motion
County of Plumas	Greenville Bookmobile
Covina Public Library	Rec and Read Covina!
Lake County Library	Lake County Library Bookmobile
Monterey Public Library	Bookmobile Replacement Project for Monterey Public Library
Pacific Grove Public Library	Pacific Grove Public Library Mobile Outreach Vehicle Electric (PGPL MOVE)
Riverside County Library System	Library Connect
San Diego County Library	Mobile Outreach – Zero Emission Vehicle
Santa Barbara Public Library	Library on the Go
Tulare County Library Foundation	Check It Out Tulare County Library
Ventura County Library	School Mobile Library
Whittier Public Library	Whittier Public Library on the Go
Woodland Public Library	Woodland Public Library Mobile Library Project
Yolo County Library	YOLO Mobile Library

Eligibility

An applicant must be a California public library, or a California cooperative system, consortium or library membership organization. Cooperatives, consortia or library organizations must apply on behalf of a specific, defined group of affiliate libraries.

Requirements

All participating libraries will:

Acquire a new or modify an existing bookmobile or community outreach vehicle, or provide programs intended to improve library access and program delivery
Have a partner or community connection with at least one organization
Provide brief quarterly reports on status of bookmobiles or community outreach vehicles

Timeline

Application opens: September 20, 2021
Recorded information session
Deadline to apply: November 15, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.
Funds awarded: January 2022
Project completion: March 31, 2024

Grant Details

Grant Amounts

Most awards will be from $50,000 to $250,000, though we may consider smaller or larger amounts (for example, in the case of a cooperative application) on a case-by-case basis.

Match Requirements

A match is required for these grants, which may be cash, in-kind, or a combination of both. The match will be based on your library’s Local Income Per Capita (LIPC) level, which is derived from California Public Libraries Survey data. For libraries in LIPC Level 1, a 20% match will be required. For LIPC Level 2, a 25% match will be required. For LIPC Level 3, a 30% match will be required. The match is a percentage of funds requested, not a percentage of the total budget. For example, the 20% match on a $100,000 funding request would be $20,000. We will consider reductions in match on a limited, case-by-case basis.

To find your library’s LIPC, please check the State Library’s Statistics webpage.

Partnership and/or Community Connection

Each funded project must have at least one partner or community connection. A partner is defined as an organization with which your library has a written agreement and which also provides resources to the project, either cash or in-kind, or both. A community connection is defined as an organization that supports your project but with whom you have no formal written agreement.

Project Details

We are seeking projects that are guided by the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in all aspects of project planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Funded projects can include the purchase of vehicles, such as bookmobiles, vans, bikes, or other vehicles, to extend library services to hard-to-reach populations. Projects involving vehicles that use alternative fuels, such as electric vehicles, are especially encouraged. Proposals for program support for existing vehicles that are underutilized because of lack of staff and other resources such as collections and equipment will also be considered.

Projects may also include proposals to support programs intended to improve library access and program delivery, including lockers and pop-up libraries.

To ensure the success of each project, libraries will be required to provide quarterly status updates on the procurement process of their bookmobile or community outreach vehicle.

If your library would like to apply to participate in Bibliotheca’s Open+ project, that application counts as a Stronger Together: Improving Library Access grant. The grant process for libraries seeking to implement Open+ will be run separately, so please do not use the current application to apply for Open+.

Please note, for staffing costs, state funding can only be used to fund project-specific staff or staff time spent directly on the project.

Additional Resources

The following webinars were created to support the Shared Vision/Bringing the Library to You Mobile Solutions grants. The trainings include helpful information about how to select a mobile library vehicle, which features to include, how to implement mobile library services in your jurisdiction, and more.

Questions? Please email the State Library’s Library Development Services Bureau with the subject line “Mobile Library.”