EveryLibrary Institute creates HALO Fund to help Librarians and Library workers in need of financial assistance due to COVID-19

Library workers tirelessly support their communities through the provision of resources, programming, and materials and the EveryLibrary Institute is honoring their hard work in this critical time.

In honor of National Library Worker Day on April 21st, 2020, the EveryLibrary Institute is proud to be working with hundreds of library supporters and leading library vendors to provide “cost of living grants”“ of up to $250 to qualified library workers, librarians, and staff from public, school, and academic libraries who have an urgent financial need.  The EveryLibrary Institute is a national 501c3 non-profit with a mission to support the future of libraries and the role of librarians in society.

This campaign is called the Help a Library Worker Out Fund (or HALO Fund) and is a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to help support library workers, librarians, and staff who are facing unexpected financial difficulties because of the Coronavirus and resulting economic slowdown.

To date, the EveryLibrary Institute has raised over $15,000 and they“ve given away nearly $13,000 in grants to library workers in need. What defines that need will be identified by the individual but could include household expenses like groceries, child care, cell phone, internet, gas, insurance, and other bills. The application process is confidential and easy to complete. These grants to individuals and families are to be “unrestricted” and do not have a requirement to be paid back.

“This will help me cover the cost of my medications while my library is closed. I’m only part-time so I don’t have insurance to help. – DB”

Who is eligible to receive a “Help a Library Worker Out” grant?

“This is groceries for my family until unemployment starts.” – SC

As a national library 501c3 non-profit organization, the EveryLibrary Institute is in a unique position to quickly bring together donors from across the country and make grants to library workers who are part of the library family.

“It is important to come together now to help our colleagues in need. In fact, we“ve seen an amazing outpouring of support from our library supporters and especially our vendor and support organization community who have helped sponsor this program.”“ says John Chrastka, Executive Director of EveryLibrary.

Nine organizations and companies have made matching donations ranging from $250 to $1,500. These organizations include the Awesome Library Foundation who made the initial funding available and Urban Librarians Unite who helped with an early matching grant. Corporate donors include Gale, a Cengage company, EBSCO, Zoobean, Brainfuse, Pikinc, WT Cox, and the Quipu Group.

As Jack Rothstien, Director of Library Services at Brainfuse said, “At Brainfuse we“re aware of the impact that the COVID-19 required shutdown has had on the lives of librarians and staff who work diligently to provide support for their communities. As an expression of our support for these invaluable people, we feel privileged to be able to participate with EveryLibrary in providing support funding for those individuals currently facing economic hardship.”“

Make a donation

Libraries are important because they offer the public free access to a wealth of accurate information, whether online, in print or in person. And library workers are more than just people who check out your books. Library workers, including librarians, support staff and employees who make library services possible are what keep these resources running and working.

Donations for the HALO fund can be made on the EveryLibrary website at: www.everylibraryinstitute.org/halo

“This donation will be such a blessing in my life this week. I truly appreciate it.” – KS