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<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
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</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;margin-left:-16.45pt;margin-top:-23.9pt;width:161.25pt;height:119.45pt;z-index:251658240;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:margin;mso-height-relative:margin'>
<v:imagedata src="cid:image001.png@01D6E817.15804CF0" o:title="" />
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="215" height="159" style="width:2.2395in;height:1.6562in" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D6E8C1.97445BA0" align="left" hspace="12" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2"><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Congratulations
to <a href="https://www.conneaut.lib.oh.us/">Conneaut Public Library</a>, <a href="https://fairportlibrary.com/">
Fairport Harbor Public Library</a>, and <a href="https://www.wrightlibrary.org/">
Wright Memorial Public Library</a> for being awarded <a href="http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2016/12/facing-divided-nation-ala-offers-libraries-free-trainings-dialogue-facilitation">
Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Focus on Small and Rural Libraries</a> grants.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">ALA has just opened a second application round for this grant and will be giving out 450 additional grants to small and rural libraries and encourages libraries to
apply for funding by March 4.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Participating libraries receive training in how to lead conversations through an ALA e-course on basic facilitation skills; host at least one conversation (in-person
or virtual) with community members on a chosen topic; and receive $3,000 to support community engagement efforts. Grant funds may cover a range of expenses, including staff time and collections and technology purchases.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">You can read more about the project in this
<a href="http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2021/01/ala-awards-community-engagement-grants-200-smallrural-libraries-invites">
press release</a> or in the <a href="http://www.ala.org/tools/librariestransform/libraries-transforming-communities/focusgrants/guidelines">
project guidelines.</a> View the full list of public, academic, school and tribal libraries receiving grants at:
<a href="http://www.ala.org/tools/librariestransform/libraries-transforming-communities/focusgrants/libraries#round%201%20recipients">
http://www.ala.org/tools/librariestransform/libraries-transforming-communities/focusgrants/libraries#round%201%20recipients</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">###<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" width="96" height="96" style="width:1.0in;height:1.0in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image004.jpg@01D6E817.D3094420"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#002060"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#002E62">Marsha McDevitt-Stredney, Ph.D.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#002E62">Public Information Officer<br>
Director, Marketing & Communications<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#002E62">State Library of Ohio<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#002E62">274 E. 1<sup>st</sup> Avenue<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#002E62">Columbus, OH 43201<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#002E62">Tel: 614-644-6875<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><a href="http://library.ohio.gov/"><span style="color:blue">library.ohio.gov</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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