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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Please excuse multiple postings…<o:p></o:p></span></i></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"><!--[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_3" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) graphic with State Library of Ohio logo and semi-transparent American flag" style='position:absolute;margin-left:99.3pt;margin-top:0;width:150.5pt;height:150.5pt;z-index:-251658752;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:right;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:top;mso-position-vertical-relative:page;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:margin;mso-height-relative:margin'>
<v:imagedata src="cid:image001.jpg@01D73CFD.D7BD2A50" o:title="American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) graphic with State Library of Ohio logo and semi-transparent American flag" />
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="201" height="201" style="width:2.0937in;height:2.0937in" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D73D08.A5BE16D0" align="right" hspace="12" alt="American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) graphic with State Library of Ohio logo and semi-transparent American flag" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_3"><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">The
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1319/text">American Rescue Plan Act</a> (ARPA) of 2021 designates $200 million in pandemic response funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The $200 million investment
will provide critical funding to State Library Administrative Agencies (SLAAs), located in every U.S. state and territory, with reach into local communities across the country. In Ohio, the State Library of Ohio will receive $4,547,789 in one-time federal ARPA
funds through the <a href="https://www.imls.gov/grants/grant-programs/grants-states">
IMLS Grants to States</a> program. Once disbursed, the funds will need to be utilized by June 30, 2022.
<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">The State Library of Ohio will use the majority of ARPA funds to provide substantial support to statewide and regional programs directly impacted by the pandemic, including
resource sharing and e-content usage. To best leverage these funds, the State Library will announce opportunities for competitive grants in May. The State Library is investing a significant amount of thought, creativity, and preparation to develop an equitable<b>
</b>plan to reach academic, public, school, and special libraries. Libraries of all types adapted to the changing needs of their communities throughout the past year, and each type of library faced different challenges with a common thread of bridging the
digital divide.<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">“Libraries are acutely aware of the digital divide and have been striving to increase digital inclusion since the 1990s,” expressed State Librarian Wendy Knapp. “COVID
brought this issue to the forefront of every industry, and IMLS recognizes that the ARPA funds can leverage the work being done in libraries for these past decades.”
<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"><a name="plans"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">“The coronavirus pandemic persists in taking its harsh toll on communities. This infusion of support for America’s vital community institutions is crucial,”
said IMLS Director Crosby Kemper. “The need for access to information for health, job, educational, and unemployment resources continues across the country, especially in communities that were already vulnerable.”<o:p></o:p></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:plans"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark:plans"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Considerations include:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Every ARPA dollar spent must be accounted for and reported to IMLS by the State Library.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Funds may only be spent according to the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA); this creates programmatic limitations on how the
money can be used.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">ARPA funds cannot be used for land, construction, expansion, or many types of renovation, nor can they be used for advocacy or lobbying.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">ARPA funds are one-time-only funds and cannot be used to supplant reduced operating costs.
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Since any potential sub-grants use federal funds, each library must complete various forms, including Assurances and Certifications
and CIPA Internet Safety compliance.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">All federally-required forms must be signed and submitted before ARPA funds may be disbursed.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<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">“While the State Library intends to maximize spending flexibility, it must do so while adhering to the overall spirit and priorities of the legislation,” continued Knapp. “ARPA
is ultimately meant to address problems brought about or exacerbated by the pandemic.”<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>
<div style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Join the
<a href="https://lists.library.ohio.gov/mailman/listinfo/arpa-oh">ARPA-OH announcement list</a> to receive news and information about American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) library initiatives and programs in Ohio supported through the Institute of Museum and Library
Services and administered by the State Library of Ohio.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<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">Questions may be directed to
<a href="mailto:wknapp@library.ohio.gov">Wendy Knapp</a>, <a href="mailto:estruble@library.ohio.gov">
Evan T. Struble</a>, or <a href="mailto:marshams@library.ohio.gov">Marsha McDevitt-Stredney</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"><img border="0" width="96" height="96" style="width:1.0in;height:1.0in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image004.jpg@01D73CFE.1C4E1D00"><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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