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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_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" href="https://library.ohio.gov/competitive-grants" style='position:absolute;margin-left:316.1pt;margin-top:0;width:162pt;height:147.6pt;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:top;mso-position-vertical-relative:page;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:margin;mso-height-relative:margin' o:button="t">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><a href="https://library.ohio.gov/competitive-grants"><img border="0" width="216" height="197" style="width:2.25in;height:2.052in" src="cid:image002.jpg@01DB5074.DDC5AE70" align="right" hspace="12" title="" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1"></a><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Seven
public libraries and one university have been selected to receive LSTA Competitive Grants. During its December meeting, the State Library of Ohio Board approved over $170,000 in funding from the Federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) for proposals
that requested over $5,000. These grant funds are provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Ashtabula County District Library</span></b><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> and
<b>Ohio Northern University Library</b> were awarded Ohio LSTA Competitive Grants in the category of Literacy. The purpose of the Literacy category is to support the library’s role in the development of learning and experiences where literacy is defined as
the ability to read, write and interact across a range of platforms and tools, and it encompasses early literacy, digital literacy, functional literacy, financial literacy, health literacy, and others. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Bexley Public Library, Briggs Lawrence County Public Library, Jackson City Library,</span></b><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> and
<b>Mentor Public Library</b> were awarded Ohio LSTA Competitive Grants in the category of Library as Community Anchor. The purpose of the Library as Community Anchor category is to support the role libraries play in strengthening their communities and providing
a destination for learning, engagement, social support and expression. This can include areas of employment-related help, economic development support, civic engagement, gathering spaces, and support for the mental health of those served. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Clermont County Public Library
</span></b><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">and <b>Stark County District Library</b> were awarded Ohio LSTA Competitive Grants in the category of Outreach and Engagement. The purpose of Outreach and Engagement category is to assist libraries
in providing new and innovative ways of offering services to users and potential users and in reaching individuals at a range of locations and through a variety of methods, typically outside of the traditional library facility. Efforts may include reaching
populations not otherwise served by the library and the establishment of new or novel partnerships. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">“The State Library’s LSTA Competitive Grant program once again lived up to its name, as evidenced by this year’s strong set of applicants,” expressed Evan T. Struble, Associate State
Librarian for Library Development. “The eight libraries awarded funding proposed a wide variety of initiatives, programs, and services to better serve their constituents. I’m excited to see how they play out, and how they might serve as examples to other Ohio
libraries considering implementation of similar services.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><a href="https://library.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/lib/libraries/grants/awarded-grants/awarded-competitive-grants" target="_blank">Read brief summaries of awarded grants</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">###<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0E3F75"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><img border="0" width="268" height="80" style="width:2.7916in;height:.8333in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.png@01DB5071.992B7450" alt="A picture containing text
Description automatically generated"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0E3F75">Marsha McDevitt-Stredney<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">Director, Marketing & Communications<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">State Library of Ohio<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">274 E. 1<sup>st</sup> Avenue<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">Columbus, OH 43201<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">Tel: 614.644.6875<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0070C0"><a href="mailto:marshams@library.ohio.gov"><span style="color:#0070C0">marshams@library.ohio.gov</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0070C0"><a href="https://library.ohio.gov/"><span style="color:#0070C0">library.ohio.gov</span></a><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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