The Evangeline Parish Public Library has received a special round of funding to help its library system further respond directly and immediately to the many needs of its communities as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. Through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded $3,012,150 to the State Library of Louisiana to be disbursed to public libraries in Louisiana. "The Evangeline Parish Library has received $47,064 of that funding", Director Yvonne Lavergne said. The State Library of Louisiana has a longstanding partnership with Louisiana's 340 public libraries providing assistance in all areas of library service. This includes disbursing federal funding when it is available. The purpose of these ARPA funds is to provide economic relief as quickly as possible to every parish library system in Louisiana to support public libraries as they continue to assist families with all of their information needs as a result of the pandemic. Specifically, public libraries will spend these funds on expanding digital network access, purchasing internet accessible devices, and addressing digital inclusion by providing technical support services to citizens, particularly in support of education, health, and workforce development needs. "Public libraries are essential to the well-being of our entire state and provide critical access points for Louisianans to obtain the information and services that they need to thrive and succeed. This has never been more true than during the current pandemic which has exposed the vulnerability of many of our citizens and their lack of internet access, as well as the degree to which they rely upon in-person and online assistance and access to life changing information provided by their public libraries," State Librarian Rebecca Hamilton states, "This funding will provide additional relief to our parish public libraries, who have reached far beyond the walls of their libraries and deep into their communities to ensure that they have what they need the most right now – access to information, technology, and broadband." Suzy Lemoine, Outreach Coordinator, encourages anyone with questions about the plans for spending the funds granted through the American Rescue Plan ACT to call the main library at 337-363-1369. To view our current programming, visit www.evangelinelibrary.org.