2022 NC LIVE Annual Conference

Our library building is nearly 50 years old and looks it! Paint and carpet had not been replaced in more than two decades, and our student traffic was on a consistent decline.  Much of this was related to the building’s poor aesthetic and lack of dedicated study space.  While we knew of these concerns, the budget would not allow for renovation. However, with the advent of Covid-19, we discovered that government monies had become available that were not previously obtainable.  To our surprise, we found that that we were actually good grant writers and applied for several grants that will now provide new study and conference rooms, more modern furnishings, and up-to-date technology. We did our homework by reading the literature found in NC LIVE databases and surveyed similarly sized libraries.  In the past year, we have written 9 grants and have been awarded 7 so far (an unusually high success rate).  Through frugal spending and a rigorous “rightsizing” plan, we have transformed our space into one that attracts students, meets their needs, and makes our university proud.

Come learn about grant writing – what is out there and best practices for applying. See how your library can transform its space to better meet the needs of your patrons without building a new facility.