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MPLF - Maine Public Library Fund Grants
Maine Public Library Fund Grant (Tax Check-Off) Information
Purpose:
The Maine State Library will make funds from the Maine Public Library Fund (income tax check-off) available to Maine public libraries and library staff to encourage and support innovation in the creation and expansion of new library services. For continuing education and professional development grants, please apply on the Continuing Education Grants page.
NOTICE: We will not be offering grants in Spring 2024 and will be using the time to review the grant program to make sure that it meets current and future needs of Maine's public libraries. During this review, we will provide updates as to when the program will be reinstated. In the interim, funds will be used to support the van delivery service which provides over 150 libraries and their patrons with access to millions of materials each year.
Types of projects funded: Awards will be granted for projects that:
- Create and test a new service or program
- Expand an existing service or program
- Bring specialized staff training to the library or region
- Support innovative and creative services for special populations and age group
Funds may not be used for:
- Collection development, except as related to a new service or program
- Food, alcohol, refreshments
- Staff pay for regularly scheduled work
- Summer reading giveaways and prizes
- Capital projects, including construction
- Regular library operations and existing programs
Reporting requirements:
Program award recipients will be required to submit a final report to the Maine State Library upon completion of the project, but no longer than 24 months within receipt of funds. The reporting form can be found at your Foundant account https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=MSL. Recipients of awards are also expected to share their project results at a professional meeting, webinar, conference, or in the MLA newsletter.
Application review:
Program applications received by the deadlines will be evaluated based on:
- Financial need
- Benefits of project to the local community or target audience
- Benefits of the project to the larger Maine library community
- Creativity and novelty of project
- Collaborations and partnerships
- Willingness to promote receipt of grant
- Experience and knowledge of the project leaders (for the $5000 grant)
If your library is awarded a grant, it is not eligible to apply for another award for two years. For example, if your library received an award in Fall/Winter 2017, it will not be eligible to apply for another grant until Fall 2019. If the fund grows, this rule may change to allow for more than one grant application per year. We will also encourage libraries to submit the same application for the next grant cycle if not funded due to limited funds. Grants for professional development for library staff person from a library does not affect the library’s eligibility and vice versa. Contact for questions: Deborah Clark atdeborah.clark@maine.gov or 207-233-2193.
| Fall 2022 Program Grants Awarded | ||
| Library | Grant amount | Grant funds will be used for: |
| Scarborough Public Library | $5,000 | New Mainer grants and services |
| Simpson Memorial Library, Carmel | $1,860 | StoryWalk |
| Liberty Library | $2,500 | StoryWalk |
| Gardiner Public Library | $3,296.95 | Teen programming |
Readfield Community Library |
$2,015.70 |
Sustainability speakers series |
| Hollis Center Public Library | $2,170.50 | StoryWalk |
| Buck Memorial Library, Bucksport | $2,137.85 | STEAM programming |
Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick |
$1,017 |
3-D printer programming |
| Waterford Library | $1,650 | Saturday science programs |
| Spring 2022 Program Grants Awarded | ||
| Library | Grant amount | Grant funds will be used for: |
| Millinocket Memorial Library | $3,000 | Community gardening programming |
| Walker Memorial Library | $5,000 | Non-English language book packs |
| Porter Memorial Library | $4,950 | DEI author lecture series |
| Fryeburg Public Library | $1,460 | Community garden programming |
Cushing Public Library |
$1,373 | Outdoor programming equipment |
| Veterans Memorial Library | $2,890 | Outdoor movies equipment |
| Soldiers Memorial Library | $1,868 | Yoga for kids and teens |
William Fogg Public Library |
$230 |
Read ME program |
| Brownfield Public Library | $1,100 | Chinese Language classes for homeschoolers |
| Waterboro Public Library | $2,500 | Genealogy programming |
| Warren Free Public Library | $640 | Children's science programming |
| Fall 2021 Program Grants Awarded | ||
| Library | Grant amount | Grant funds will be used for: |
| Bridgton Public Library | $890 | Writers Café |
| Casco Library Association dba Casco Public Library | $1,000 | Community garden |
| Winterport Free Library Association | $5,000 | Mobile shelving |
| Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library | $4,290 | Hot spots & laptop lending |
| Town of Lebanon dba Martha Sawyer Community Library | $2,250 | DEI program with high school |
| Hartland Public Library | $1,387 | YS gaming club |
| Witherle Memorial Library | $2,949 | YS author event |
| Jesup Memorial Library | $2,400 | DEI training for staff |
| Spring 2021 Program Grants Awarded | ||
| Library | Grant amount | Grant funds will be used for: |
| Auburn Public Library | $3,040 | DEI reading and discussion group series |
| Bass Harbor Memorial Library | $3,585 | Open art studio project |
| Jay-Niles Memorial Library | $2,500 | STEM kits |
| Ogunquit Public Library | $1,200 | Nature adventure packs |
| Skidompha Library, Damariscotta | $4,140 | STEM kits |
| South Berwick Public Library | $2,150 | Land acknowledgment event |
| Springvale Public Library | $500 | STEM coding program |
| Thompson Free Library, Dover-Foxcroft | $2,000 | Tent for outdoor programs |
| Waldoboro Public Library | $3,150 | Live performance of children's books |
| Windham Public Library | $1,000 | Adult with caregiver arts & crafts nights |
| Winslow Public Library | $2,975 | Materials pick-up lockers |
| Fall 2020 Program Grants Awarded | ||
| Library | Grant amount | Grant funds will be used for: |
| Baxter Memorial Library | $4,000 | Community educational pollinator garden |
| Gardiner Publicl Library | $2,500 | Hotspot lending program |
| Cary Library, Houlton | $1,928 | STEAM kits |
| Patten Free Library, Bath | $743 | Family games lending program |
| Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick | $1,350 | Teen reading kits |
| Rangeley Public Library | $2,500 | STEAM kits |
| Louis B. Goodall Memorial Library, Sanford | $1,804 | Hotspot lending program |
| Peavey Memorial Library, Eastport | $3,961 | Virtual children's and YA literacy series |
| Spring 2020 Program Grants Awarded | ||
| Library | Grant amount | Grant funds will be used for: |
| McArthur Library | $3,078 | Aging in place resources and outreach |
| Porter Memorial Library | $1,500 | Bicentennial book club for tweens |
| Acton Public Library | $1,400 | Life skills for teens |
| Pittsfield Public Library | $700 | Online reference service and programming |
| Monroe Community Library | $1,325 | Mobile shelving to create program space in library |
| Southwest Harbor Public Library | $3,500 | Virtual puppet show series |
| Edythe Dyer Community Library | $2,500 | Lockers for after-hours materials pick-up |
| Vassalboro Public Library | $3,750 | STEM Kits programming |
| Dr. Shaw Memorial Library | $800 | LEGO programming for children and families |
| Fall 2019 Program Grants Awarded | ||
| Library | Grant amount | Grant funds will be used for: |
| Brownfield Public Library | $1,250 | Genealogy programming |
| Julia Adams Morse Memorial Library | $800 | Bicentennial programming |
| Katahdin Public Library | $1,200 | Bicentennial programming |
| Martha Sawyer Community Library | $600 | Maine Student Book Award programming |
| Mexico Public Library | $1,300 | Story Starter Totes and programming |
| Libby Memorial Library | $3,600 | Bicentennial community read |
| Carver Memorial Library | $300 | Bicentennial reading badges program |
| Jackson Memorial Library | $3,000 | Library kitchen programming |
| Gibbs Library | $2,500 | Children's authors programs |
| Wells Public Library | $1,000 |
Maine women's suffrage programming |
| Spring 2019 Program Grants Awarded | ||
| Library | Grant amount | Grant funds will be used for: |
| New Gloucester Public Library | $1,000 | Maine Bicentennial Programming |
| Ivan O. Davis Library (Liberty) | $1,200 | Art Making for Stress Management program |
| Windham Public Library | $1,500 | STEM and Healing Packbacks program |
| Hollis Center Public Library | $1,630 | Digital Photography Picture Book Creation project |
| Underwood Memorial Library (Fayette) | $4,837 | Mobile Shelving project |
| Bass Harbor Memorial Library | $2,500 | Children's Summer Arts Camp program |
| Turner Public Library | $3,900 | Mobile Shelving project |
| Parsons Memorial (Alfred) | $1,000 | Yoga Programming |
| Kezar Falls Circulating Library | $400 | Lego Club project |
| Rice Public Library (Kittery) | $3,000 | AWE Early Literacy Station purchase |
| Long Lake Public Library (St. Agatha) | $1,800 | Children's Stories and Activities programs |
| Spring 2019 Wireless Hardware Grants Awarded | ||
| Library | Grant amount | Grant funds will be used for: |
| Denmark Public Library | $250 | Purchase of hardware and software for wireless statistics |
| Lincoln Memorial Public Library | $250 | Purchase of hardware and software for wireless statistics |
| Fryeburg Public Library | $250 | Purchase of hardware and software for wireless statistics |
| Hope Library | $250 | Purchase of hardware and software for wireless statistics |
| Mechanic Falls Public Library | $250 | Purchase of hardware and software for wireless statistics |
| New Vineyard Public Library | $250 | Purchase of hardware and software for wireless statistics |
| Long Lake Public Library (St. Agatha) | $250 | Purchase of hardware and software for wireless statistics |
| Stratton Public Library | $250 | Purchase of hardware and software for wireless statistics |
| Washburn Memorial Library | $250 | Purchase of hardware and software for wireless statistics |
| Waterford Library Association | $250 | Purchase of hardware and software for wireless statistics |
| Fall 2018 Program Grants Awarded | ||
Library |
Grant amount | Grant funds will be used for: |
| Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library | $2,500 | Large-print book club for a nearby retirement community. |
| Lubec Memorial Library | $2,500 | Local oral history video series. |
| Washburn Memorial Library | $2,141 | Lego program for local students. |
| Orono Public Library | $1,800 | Culture Packs program. |
| Norway Memorial Library | $1,500 | Community art project. |
| Skowhegan Free Public Library | $1,360 | Youth robotics and coding program. |
| Bonney Memorial Library, Cornish | $1,000 | Young artists sketching program. |
| Dyer Library, Saco | $900 | Digitization of local historical photographic collection. |
| Lincolnville Community Library | $500 | Method Writing Workshop. |
| Mildred Stevens Williams Memorial Library, Appleton | $450 | Youth animation workshop. |
| Stockton Springs Community Library | $400 | Weekly tai chi classes for seniors. |
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| Fall 2018 Wireless Hardware Grants Awarded | ||
Library |
Grant Amount |
Grant funds will be used for: |
| Andover Public Library | $250 | Purchase of hardware and software for wireless statistics |
| Belgrade Public Library | $250 | Purchase of hardware and software for wireless statistics |
| Brooksville Free Public Library | $250 | Purchase of hardware and software for wireless statistics |
| Florence Sturdivant Public Library | $250 | Purchase of hardware and software for wireless statistics |
| Lincolnville Community Library | $250 | Purchase of hardware and software for wireless statistics |
| Milbridge Public Library | $250 | Purchase of hardware and software for wireless statistics |
| Spaulding Memorial Library | $250 | Purchase of hardware and software for wireless statistics |
| Veteran's Memorial Library | $250 | Purchase of hardware and software for wireless statistics |
| Winter Harbor Public Library | $250 | Purchase of hardware and software for wireless statistics |
| Winterport Memorial Library | $250 | Purchase of hardware and software for wireless statistics |
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| Spring 2018 Grants Awarded | ||
Library |
Grant Amount | Grant funds will be used for: |
Waterboro Public Library |
$5,000 | STEM programming for children |
| Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta | $3,600 | Expanding podcast capabilities |
| Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell | $2,500 | LEGO library and programs for tots to teens |
| Dr. Shaw Memorial Library, Mt. Vernon | $2,500 | Mobile shelving to expand children's room space |
| Paris Public Library | $2,500 | Craft cart and monthly crafting programs |
| Prince Memorial Library, Cumberland | $2,500 | Portable digitization lab |
| McArthur Public Library, Biddeford | $1,800 | Outdoor movies program |
| Brown Memorial Library, Baldwin | $1,700 | Children's room improvements |
| Guilford Memorial Library | $1,300 | STEM discovery kits |
| Cary Library, Houlton | $1,000 | Quiet maker space for teens and challenged adults |
| Gardiner Public Library | $1,000 | Children's monthly nutrition programs |
| Patten Free Library, Bath | $1,000 | Books on the Bus seat covers |
| Pittsfield Public Library | $1,000 | ARSL Conference attendance |
| Springvale Public Library | $1,000 | Family summer sensory story time |
Spring and Fall 2017 Grants Awarded - PDF
Fall 2016 Grants Awarded - PDF
