Memphis Library Foundation

MEMPHIS PUBLIC LIBRARIES WILL INCREASE PUBLIC WI-FI ACCESS ACROSS ITS 18-BRANCH SERVICE AREA, EQUIP OUTREACH VEHICLES TO SERVE AS MOBILE HOTSPOTS, AND CREATE A ROBUST CONTINUUM OF BILINGUAL PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES TO SERVE VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. THE LIBRARY WILL PRESERVE LOCAL HISTORY AS IT UNFOLDS THROUGH ITS 901VOICES ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM AND UPGRADE ITS IN-HOUSE TELEVISION AND RADIO STATION TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP THE PUBLIC BETTER INFORMED AND EDUCATED ABOUT THE PANDEMIC AND LOCAL RESOURCES. THE LIBRARY WILL ALSO INCREASE THE TYPES AND QUALITY OF DIGITAL AND IN-PERSON PROGRAMS OFFERED TO MEET THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF ITS COMMUNITY DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. THESE ADDITIONS AND ENHANCEMENTS WILL BENEFIT OVER 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE WHO VISIT THE LIBRARIES EVERY YEAR, AS WELL AS OVER 300 STAFF MEMBERS AND OVER 350 VOLUNTEERS.

THE MEMPHIS PUBLIC LIBRARIES (MPL) IN TENNESSEE WILL ENHANCE SERVICES FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS FACING TRANSPORTATION AND FINANCIAL BARRIERS, THE DISPARITIES OF WHICH WERE WIDENED WITH COVID-19. MPL WILL EXPAND OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS THROUGH THE LIBRARY'S MOBILE TECHNOLOGY VAN, INCLUDING PROVIDING TECHNOLOGY CLASSES FOR MINORITY, FEMALE, LOW-INCOME, AND OTHER AT-RISK YOUTH POPULATIONS. MPL WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER AND TYPES OF PROGRAMS IT OFFERS TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PATRONS OF ALL AGES AND MEET EVOLVING PATRON NEEDS. IN ADDITION, MPL WILL EXPAND ITS DIGITAL COLLECTIONS TO INCREASE ACCESS FOR PATRONS, WHO CONTINUE TO RELY HEAVILY ON VIRTUAL RESOURCES.