Project Examples

800# Interlibrary Loan & Reference Backup Service
The Alaska State Library, in partnership with the Anchorage Public Library, provided interlibrary loans and backup reference services free to libraries across the state, including rural, public, school, and tribal libraries. Many of these libraries cannot afford the proprietary software needed to obtain materials outside of their own collections, and the 800# Service allows them to access materials and assistance they would not be able to get otherwise. A large number of the Alaska libraries that utilized this service are staffed with volunteers, so this reference service provided access to more complex questions regarding library materials and general information to help with their patrons' needs.
IMLS Funds: $57,974
 

Virtual Tours
The Alaska State Library, Archive and Museum provided CARES Act stimulus funds to the University of Alaska’s Museum of the North to offer virtual tours of the Museum and their special exhibits when the state was locked down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The modest amount of funds, which went mostly toward the acquisition and use of 360-degree cameras, made the Museum’s unique collections accessible to Alaska and the world. Among other items, the cameras captured videos related to Bus 142, from the book and movie Into the Wild, which are now accessible to a wider audience as a result of these funds.
IMLS Funds: $1,350

Continuing Education Grants
Alaska is one of few states without an accredited graduate library school, and many Alaska librarians work in isolation with limited access to library management training. These professionals need to be exposed to new ideas and emerging trends in library service for patrons of all types. To support this need, the Alaska State Library regularly allocates funds to each library outlet so staff can pursue in-person and virtual training opportunities. Alaskan library patrons are extremely diverse, with many Alaska Native patrons in the rural communities and many English as a Second Language patrons in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. They have come to rely on libraries for a broad range of technology and information resources, in addition to other traditional library services.
IMLS Funds: $1,366.50

Review recent Grants to States projects from this state library in the State Program Report database.

Search the Awarded Grants Database for additional details about awards in this state or view the State Details Dashboard..

Five-Year Plan Highlights

Goal 1: Alaska libraries will support lifelong learning opportunities for all Alaskans.

• Projects include:
  • Talking Book Services
  • Cultural and historical programs for and about Alaska Natives and Alaska Native culture
  • Needs assessments related to people from various cultures and non-English speaking groups
  • Statewide or individual summer reading programs
  • Early childhood resources and related training
  • Author visits and cultural programming
  • Afterschool programs
  • Literacy programs such as basic, early, civic, financial, health, and legal
  • Health and wellness programs
  • Reference and interlibrary loan services
  • Books-by-mail or appropriate alternatives for Alaskans living in areas without public libraries
  • Needs assessments and pilot services in communities without public libraries, including collaboration with school and tribal libraries
  • Training and consulting services for library staff
  • Professional learning opportunities for the library workforce
  • Scholarships for professional certification or advanced degrees
  • Grants for library staff to attend state, regional, and national conferences

Goal 2: Alaska libraries will provide access to content and materials in various formats for all Alaskans.

• Projects include:
  • Cataloged access to materials
  • Assessment of local collections for inclusion in databases and catalogs
  • SLED (Statewide Library Electronic Doorway), Alaska’s statewide library database
  • E-content and other emerging options for delivering library materials
  • Collection development mini-grant program
  • Collaboration with statewide consortia to expand access to electronic resources and services
  • Provision of materials in Alaska Native languages
  • Creation/digitization of resources that document Alaska’s history and peoples
  • Preservation of unique library materials about Alaska
  • Library pilot projects that support Alaskans in publishing original creative works
  • Hardware and software to support access to electronic resources
  • Pilot projects to create Library of Things collections, such as tools, sporting goods, and household items
  • STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts Mathematics) projects
  • Strategies for affordable bandwidth to meet local needs
  • Collaboration with telecommunication providers and other agencies to expand internet access

Goal 3: Alaska libraries will explore evolving roles as anchor institutions that benefit and engage their communities.

• Projects include:
  • Business development services
  • Support for community sustainability activities, such as community gardens, farmers markets, or seed libraries
  • Workforce development services
  • Serve as an access point for electronic forms and online services offered by local, state, and federal government
  • Civic engagement events to discuss issues of public concern
  • Access to legal information and services
  • Space planning and design
  • Resources for people who are homeless and/or who have mental health conditions
  • Computers, software, and equipment for digital media use
  • Libraries as disaster response centers
  • Community needs planning for times of crisis
  • Support for the Alaska Library Network and other entities that coordinate cooperative library services and programs
  • Strategic planning assistance for libraries

IMLS Data Collection

State Library Administrative Agency Survey
The State Library Administrative Agency Survey (SLAA) provides descriptive data about state library agencies for all fifty states and the District of Columbia. To interact with the latest data, please visit the SLAA Survey Comparison Tool. 

Public Libraries Survey
The Public Libraries Survey (PLS) provides national descriptive data on the status of public libraries in the United States and its territories. Explore state profiles representing more than 9,000 public library systems and over 17,000 public library outlets.