Lovell Branch Library gets funding from grants

The Lovell Branch Library is hosting community activities starting in January for children, teens and adults. The activities are funded by grants from Rocky Mountain Power (RMP). 

“You must be a customer of RMP to be able to apply for the grants,” said director of Big Horn County Library systems Tina Ely. “We are customers of RMP, so we qualify for the grants. It is an easy process, and they are easy to work with.”

According to Ely, an organization can apply for grants via the RMP website. She said RMP customers who apply for grants will be notified on how much they are qualified to receive.

“You can fill out an application online,” Ely said. “If and when you qualify, they will send you a letter on how much you are qualified for.  Within a week or so, they will send you a check and, in the end, you would have to send them a report on what you did with the money.”

RMP grant funds were put to good use for the Lovell Branch Library, which used the money for purchasing computer chairs and other materials.

“We are excited to receive these grants from RMP,” said Lovell library manager Cathy Collins. “Our library was able to purchase patron computer chairs for the public to use, and these chairs were much needed.”

Upcoming events

The Lovell Branch Library will be hosting events each week of the month. Collins said anyone interested in what events are coming up can pick up a schedule at the library front desk or go online. 

“Our library will have a teen art journal class on the second Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m.” Collins said. “The library gives teens ages 12 and up art journals that they bring with them each month so they can write down a new page on each learned technique.” 

Collins said another art activity will occur on January 28 at 5 p.m.  She said the library will be hosting art adventures with Kee Ostler as the art teacher.

“The library will provide supplies for this activity,” Collins said. “We will not charge anyone because the activities are always free; however, sign-ups are required so that our library can make sure enough supplies are available, and sometimes the class is limited up to about 12 people.” 

The grant funding will help children and teens get access to supplies for any of the activities, especially to those who don’t have the money to buy what they need for class.

“A lot of these kids do not have any access to these supplies at home,” said assistant manager Linda Mangus. “The kids can come to our library and learn a new skill, and it will not cost anything out of the kids’ pocket or their parents’ pocket. These art classes help teach kids how to be creative.”

Next month the Lovell Branch Library will be hosting an event called “Books You Hate.” It will go on for the entire month of February. People can come into the library and tell any librarian what books they hate and be entered into a drawing. Prizes will be given each week to persons whose name was drawn.

For additional information on any upcoming activities or events, visit the Lovell Branch Library or go to their website at https://www.bhcwylibrarysystem.org/lovell-library.