Hartford Public Library is the recipient of $167,000 from the State of Connecticut as part of an initiative to help state libraries weather the COVID-19 crisis.
“We are grateful for the financial support from Governor Lamont and his administration. This will help us continue to create a safe environment for our customers and our staff. We are always looking for ways to extend our mission to serve the people of Hartford. This funding will help us continue on that path,” said Bridget Quinn-Carey, HPL’s president and CEO.
Quinn-Carey said the library will use the resources to purchase PPE, cleaning supplies and equipment to increase its capacity for providing outreach and offsite services. HPL will also retrofit space at the Downtown Library to be better able to safely serve people on-site.
Hartford Public Library is currently offering 90 minute visits to our Downtown Library for the following: computer use, printing, copying, fax, and scanning. The Hartford History Center, The American Place and passport services are available by appointment.
The library also offers contact-free pickup at the Downtown, Campfield, Albany, Park Street, and Barbour libraries, as well as through the Library on Wheels.
Governor Ned Lamont had previously announced that his administration dedicated $2.6 million of Connecticut’s Coronavirus Relief Funds to support the state’s public libraries as they continue to make health and safety improvements and offer more services to residents amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The funds are administered through the Connecticut State Library.
The funds were distributed among libraries across Connecticut based on their size and the number of residents they serve each year, which allowed much of the funds to target those who serve low-income urban and rural communities.
“Libraries offer critical services for the public, including reliable Wi-Fi, access to computers and laptops, supportive learning materials and resources, and librarians who are trained in helping residents access key services,” said Governor Lamont in a statement.
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