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VAN BUREN DISTRICT LIBRARY

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1 June 2020: VBDL RECEIVES CARES GRANT

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1 June 2020
For more information, contact Director Dan Hutchins, 269.423.4771, ext 4103; dhutchins@vbdl.org

VBDL RECEIVES CARES GRANT

DECATUR, MICHIGAN – – – – Van Buren District Library is the recipient of a $5,000 emergency CARES grant administered by Michigan Humanities.

According to Director Dan Hutchins, funding for the grant was provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act economic stabilization plan.

With CARES Act funding, VBDL was able to continue delivering educational and literacy programs to patrons of all ages while the library was closed.  The offerings included early childhood education, employment search assistance, and self-education and enrichment, which advance VBDL’s mission “to provide equitable access to a world of resources, reading, and lifelong learning.”

During the shutdown period, VBDL lost an estimated $22,276 in penal fine revenue and $4,230 in copying faxing receipts. Total estimated losses equal $26,506. Hutchins says the $5,000 provided by Michigan Humanities helped greatly to alleviate those losses.

During the shutdown period, Library staff were able to, thanks in part to the Michigan Humanities grant:

  • Produce 38 educational videos that were watched by 5,941 people
  • Install outdoor Wi-Fi access points at five of our seven locations to provide Internet access to those who do not have it in their homes. These Wi-Fi access points were used by 2,346 individuals during the state mandated stay-at-home order.
  • Continue to provide remote access e-resources including e-books, audio-visual content, and online tutoring to people living in the Library’s service area. The Library circulated 10,170 electronic items and hosted 51 remote tutoring sessions during the state mandated stay-at-home period.

Access to VBDL’s online resources are available 24/7 at VBDL.org. For more information, contact the library at 269.423.4771 or email info@vbdl.org

Van Buren District Library is headquartered in Decatur with branches in Bangor, Bloomingdale, Covert, Gobles, Lawrence and Mattawan.

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200 N. PHELPS STREET
DECATUR, MI 49045
PHONE: 269-423-4771
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Branch Locations

› Antwerp Sunshine Library
› Bangor Branch Library
› Bloomingdale Branch Library
› Covert Branch Library
› Gobles Branch Library
› Lawrence Branch Library
› Webster Memorial Branch Library

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MY ACCOUNT

269-423-4771

EMAIL US

HOURS

  • HOME
  • CATALOG
  • EXPLORE
    ▼
    • Recommendations
      ▼
      • New Titles
      • What to Read Next
      • Best Sellers
      • Award Winners
    • Resources
      ▼
      • Local History
      • Ancestry: In Library Only
      • MeL Articles & Databases
      • Fold3 Library Edition
  • USING THE LIBRARY
    ▼
    • Ask a Librarian
    • Get a Library Card
    • Library Services
  • eLIBRARY
    ▼
    • Overdrive eBooks
    • MeLCat – Michigan Library
    • Hoopla Digital
    • Fold3 – Historical Military Records
    • Transparent Language
    • Tutor.com
  • CLASSES & EVENTS
    ▼
    • VBDL’s YouTube Channel
  • ABOUT
    ▼
    • VBDL
      ▼
      • Mission and Goals
      • Board of Trustees
      • Friends of the Library
      • Policies
      • Jobs
    • Financial
      ▼
      • Library Funding
      • Annual Report
      • Support the Library
  • LOCATIONS/CONTACTS