MONROE — The Monroe Community Library has been awarded funding from The Maine State Library and the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development as part of the “Remote Work through Libraries” initiative. The library is one of thirty-nine public libraries across the state which received funding to be used over the next three years to establish or expand services and physical space to support remote and hybrid workers, as well as business owners and entrepreneurs.

The grant awards, ranging in size from $5,000 to $100,000 utilized $1.7 million in Federal funds made possible by Governor Mills’ Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan and were awarded through a competitive grant program. The initiative focuses on libraries that serve communities where access to business centers or co-working spaces is lacking, or where there are other barriers to productivity, such as inadequate access to high-speed internet.

The Monroe Community Library (MCL) will receive $8,736 for the library’s “Supporting Connectivity in Monroe” project.

“These funds will allow us to expand our services and create a more flexible learning and working environment in the library and Town Hall,” said MCL’s volunteer director Andrea Stark, in a news release. “We plan to strengthen our high-speed internet signal; purchase stacking chairs for use during programs, meetings, and classes; install energy-efficient lighting in the library; and provide individual and shared work spaces and technology for remote workers and community members to use away from home.

“These improvements are part of ongoing library renovations, made possible through grants and reserve funds, that will create a new children’s section and re-organize and refresh our non-fiction offerings, while opening up more space for programming. We look forward to reaching out to the community to increase the library’s role as a third space for work, learning and social engagement.”

About the Maine State Library: Established in 1837, the Maine State Library strives to help people, make Maine libraries stronger, and transform information into knowledge. The Maine State Library delivers services through three central programs: Public and Outreach Services, Collections and Digital Initiatives, and Library Development.

The services provided by the Maine State Library are available to all Maine residents and are free of charge.

About the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development: The Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), consists of more than two dozen experts who work to help communities and businesses prosper through a variety of programs providing everything from targeted tax relief to community block grants to tourism marketing. Whether your business wants to make a film here, bring a Maine-made product to market, expand an aquaculture project, or explore financing when moving a business to our state, DECD’s experienced staff can help.