CHICAGO – On August 10, a weather storm known as a derecho sent intense winds across the Midwest. The Marion Public Library in Iowa suffered significant interior and exterior damage rendering it unusable to patrons. Through its Library Disaster Relief Fund, The American Library Association (ALA) has sent $10,000 for the Marion Public Library to purchase laptops, tablets, a printer, and wi-fi hotspots, as they serve their community from temporary locations in the aftermath of the disaster. The library has already set up in a small-storefront and created several kiosks in multiple locations.
The funds from ALA will enhance the library’s mobile tech capabilities to:
- Benefit under-served neighborhoods, daycare centers, senior living centers, and individuals who have limited transportation options and access to technology.
- Provide access to the internet via mobile hotspot locations to areas hardest hit by the derecho.
- Assist school-aged virtual learners with limited resources.
- Provide consistent quality library services during this time of rebuilding.
Marion Public Library Director Hollie Trenary said, “The need for library-related services is immediate, but these funds will also help us serve the long-term needs of our patrons and community members in Marion.”
ALA President Julius C. Jefferson Jr. said, “I am so pleased that ALA’s Disaster Relief Fund can assist libraries across the country and around the globe after a disaster. I want to thank ALA members and other library supporters who have contributed to help colleagues and the community of Marion, Iowa, in their time of need.”
ALA’s Disaster Relief Fund assists libraries in the United States and around the world in the aftermath of natural and man-made disasters. The ALA welcomes donations to the fund. All gifts to ALA are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by applicable laws.
The Marion Public Library serves a population of nearly 45,000 in the City of Marion and the surrounding community in Eastern Iowa near Cedar Rapids. The Marion Public Library was in the process of fundraising for a new library before the storm.
About the American Library Association
The American Library Association is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice of libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.
Originally published at https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2020/10/ala-provides-10000-disaster-relief-funds-marion-public-library
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