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Emery County accepts $24,526 in library technology grants; staff warns of future federal funding uncertainty
Summary
The Emery County Library System accepted up to $24,526 in state reimbursement grants to purchase tablets, maker-space equipment, a copier/scanner and patron computers, with funds required to be expended and installed by Sept. 8; the county librarian warned that federal programs that fund future rounds may be reduced or sunset by Oct. 2026.
The Emery County Board of County Commissioners on July 15 accepted up to $24,526 in 2025 library technology grants from the Utah State Library Division to update devices and program equipment across county branches.
Desiree Malley, director of libraries, described awards to branch staff: up to $5,000 for tablets to replace decade-old devices; $2,403 for a Green River maker-space; $4,000 for Cassell Veil branch Techie Tuesdays equipment; $4,173 for a Cleveland branch copier/scanner; $5,000 for Huntington Branch program technology; and $3,950 for Orangeville patron computers. Malley said the funds must be expended and installed by Sept. 8.
"This grant will really help our patrons and put some brand new technology into our libraries," Malley said. Commissioners moved to accept the grants and approved the acceptance by voice roll-call.
Malley also cautioned that federal funding streams supporting future library grants could change. She said the Institute of Museum and Library Services is reported in conversation to be slated for sunsetting and that the mechanism for distributing LSTA-derived funds "could be completely closed by October 2026," which would make future grant rounds uncertain. She characterized that outcome as possible but not final.
Commission discussion approved accepting the current grants and asked staff to plan project implementation by the September deadline.
