The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced a $50,000 grant Wednesday to the New Mexico State Library for the project “Libraries Lead: A Creative Economy Initiative” which utilizes public libraries as economic development centers.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced a $50,000 grant last week to the New Mexico State Library for the project “Libraries Lead: A Creative Economy Initiative,” which utilizes public libraries as economic development centers.
“This validation is significant recognition of the potential this innovative collaboration has to grow business in New Mexico and further establishing local libraries as necessary community anchors,” Cultural Affairs Secretary Veronica Gonzales said in a statement.
The New Mexico State Library, 1209 Camino Carlos Rey in Santa Fe, is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs.
The money is expected to allow for an analysis of needed entrepreneurial resources, technology suites and the development of an online education portal to be available exclusively at libraries.
The grant-winning proposal for “Libraries as Launchpads” calls for establishing rural and tribal libraries as hubs of business and economic empowerment, library officials said in a news release. The objective is to use them as knowledge centers and connectors between library users, budding entrepreneurs and business owners.
The initiative focuses on underserved and rural populations throughout New Mexico. It is a natural progression from the State Library’s Makerstate Initiative, which brought makerspace technologies to local libraries for STEM learning, officials said.
“We are gratified, and frankly thrilled, that the Libraries as Launchpads program … is being recognized and supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services,” Gonzales said.
The New Mexico project was among 31 projects nationwide selected to receive just under $5 million.
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