LSTA Direct Grants to Libraries

Massachusetts uses LSTA funding to provide libraries with direct grants to meet the needs of their community. Over the past five years, twenty-five LSTA direct grants have been awarded to libraries in the Fourth Congressional District totaling $199,676.

Below are examples of the direct grant funded projects in the Fourth Congressional District:

  • Health and Wellness – Millis Public Library $7,500

    To support the senior population in Millis, the Millis Public Library created a welcoming and supportive space for people with memory loss and their caregivers to gather and socialize. The program includes staff training, a monthly Memory Café, enhanced collections to be used during the Café meetings and for loan to patrons, and situationally appropriate programming specifically targeted to people with dementia and their caregivers. The library also works closely with partners to develop prevention and early detection workshops to offer the community.

  • Go Local – Bellingham Public Library $15,000

    In partnership with the Town's 300th Anniversary Committee, the Bellingham Library collaborated in the celebration of this milestone anniversary. The library promoted this historic event through community-wide programs, digitization, video, audio and photography projects, and publication of a book to document and record town history. The project also involved digitizing library and town collections of documents and photographs with historical significance, photographing historical sites as they currently appear, and the creation and publication of a 300th Anniversary Commemorative Book.

ARPA Funding

Grants were given to communities that were hardest hit by COVID in the state to be used to improve access for residents at the library. One grant totaling $50,000 was given in the Fourth Congressional District

  • Fall River Public Library will use funds to upgrade technology and support digitization efforts.