Senator Defrancisco Announces Local Library Grants

On July 29, 2013, State Senator John A. DeFrancisco (R-I-C, Syracuse) joined Kate McCaffrey, representing Onondaga County public libraries, to announce the individual libraries in Onondaga County that will receive state mini-grants for cultural programming. Last year, Senator DeFrancisco secured $90,000 in state funds to be awarded to libraries in Onondaga County over two years.

“I am pleased to announce the recipients of the 2013 Library Cultural Programming Grants. Our libraries are a valuable resource and we should do all that we can to maintain and improve upon them,” said Senator DeFrancisco. “These mini-grants allow our local libraries to identify cultural organizations and work with community partners as they see best suited for programming in our libraries.”

The 2013 grant recipients are Fairmount Community Library, Baldwinsville Public Library, Onondaga Free Library, Maxwell Memorial Library, Solvay Public Library, Jordan Bramley Library, the Skaneateles Library Association, Salina Library, Northern Onondaga Public Library, Fayetteville Free Library, and Marcellus Free Library. The recipients plan to use the funding for a variety of cultural programming activities including concerts, summer reading programs, teen talk, farming and animal programming, pottery classes, theatrical presentations, and a Festival of Nations.

Speaking on behalf of the Onondaga County Public Library System, NOPL Director Kate McCaffrey said, “The Cultural Programming Grant secured by Senator DeFrancisco makes it possible for residents throughout Onondaga County to enjoy cultural and educational opportunities in their own neighborhoods. We’re grateful to the Senator for his support, and for his unswerving belief in the power of libraries to enrich lives and build communities.”

In celebration of the grant announcement, Senator DeFrancisco and Ms. McCaffrey joined Dave and Liz Beebe, who presented a “Discover the Erie Canal Park” program on the history and renovation of the Erie Canal Park in Camillus at Liverpool Library.

Mini-grants are awarded to individual libraries for cultural programming endeavors to fund activities that local libraries would like to offer but could otherwise not fund. $45,000 is allotted each year, for two years, for libraries in Onondaga County. A portion of the allocation goes to mini-grants, with the remaining balance to system-wide programs. Libraries may join applications with other libraries to combine grant amounts to offer greater programming. The grants are intended to serve the 32 public libraries in Onondaga County.