Gwendolyn Brooks Library Receives $40,000 Grant

Chicago State University’s Gwendolyn Brooks Library Receives $40,000 Grant to Extend Weekend and Evening Hours.

Funds from the American Library Association Will Increase Resources, Digital Access, and Reference Materials

CHICAGO, IL (Aug. 16, 2021) – The American Library Association (ALA) announced that the Gwendolyn Brooks Library is a recipient of a $40,000 grant from the ALA COVID Library Relief Fund. The library is among 34 grantees representing academic, public school, and tribal libraries that have experienced substantial economic hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"The pandemic has hindered normal operations for students across the country," stated Dr. Leslie Roundtree, Interim Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs for Chicago State University. "Receiving this grant will catalyze greater access to library resources for our campus community as we return to face-to-face studies this fall."

Chicago State University's Richard Darga, Ed.D Dean, Library and Instruction Services, reported, "Evening and weekend hours are essential for allowing full access to the Library services for our students, who are also often working full-time, parents, or first in their family to attend college."

The ALA COVID Library Relief Fund provides grants between $30,000 and $50,000 and represents a significant non-federal grant opportunity for libraries. Grants support libraries' efforts to increase and enhance technology access, collection development, digital instruction, staffing, and outreach while maintaining and amplifying existing services through the end of 2021. Only 15 percent of applicants were awarded the ALA COVID Library Relief Fund grant. A complete list of grant recipients and project proposals are available at ALA’s COVID Library Relief Fund here.

The ALA COVID Library Relief Fund is generously supported by Acton Family Giving as part of its pandemic responsive grantmaking. Initial seed funding was provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation as part of its efforts to bolster educational and cultural organizations devastated by the economic fallout from COVID-19.

Media interested in speaking with Chicago State University’s Richard Darga, Ed.D Dean, Library and Instruction Services, may contact Lauren Finch, Director of Integrated Marketing & Communications, lfinch@csu.edu.