$31,000 in Library Improvement Grants Awarded to Nebraska Public Libraries

The Nebraska Library Commission recently awarded Library Improvement Grants for 2026 totaling $31,000 to sixteen Nebraska public libraries.

These competitive grants were funded with state funds allocated through the Nebraska Legislature and administered by the Nebraska Library Commission. Library Improvement Grants help to facilitate growth and development of library programs and services by supplementing local funding with state funds designated for these purposes.

Grant funding was used to assist libraries with upgrading to Windows 11, as Windows 10 support ended in October 2025. Windows 10 computers no longer receive security and software updates, which puts those computers at a greater risk for viruses and malware. By Microsoft declaring Windows 10 EOL (End of Life) and no longer providing security updates, libraries were confronted with two issues. They were using computers that didn’t meet the Windows 11 security requirements and couldn’t be upgraded to Windows 11 and/or were using compatible computers that didn’t have fast enough processors and/or enough memory to run Windows 11 very well. Thus, many libraries applied for the Library Improvement Grant to fund the purchase of new Windows 11 computers.

The NLC provided reimbursement grants to libraries who had already purchased their own Windows 11 computers and purchased computers on behalf of the libraries that had not yet made their own purchases.

Andrew Sherman, NLC Library Technology Support Specialist, stated, “By diligently reviewing the computer vendors and the inventory they had available, the Library Commission was able to secure reasonable prices and fulfill all the grant requests for new computers.”

Sherman preconfigured the new computers, delivered, and installed them for the libraries. Libraries received desktop computers, laptops, monitors, keyboards, and mice.

The libraries receiving grants are:

Bridgeport Public Library
Garfield County Library, Burwell
Crawford Public Library
Fairfield Public Library
Hastings Memorial Library, Grant
Greenwood Public Library
Meadow Grove Public Library
Morrill Public Library
Newman Grove Public Library
Osmond Public Library
Plainview Public Library
St. Edward Public Library
Sidney Public Library
Lied Tekamah Public Library
Valentine Public Library
Walthill Public Library

As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, bringing together people and information.

The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission Website, http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases

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