The Paul H. Thompson Library at Fayetteville Technical Community College was awarded an $11,936 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to create a Makerspace Lab to serve FTCC students.

Makerspaces are collaborative work areas with a variety of equipment. At the Paul H. Thompson Library, the grant will be used to purchase a computer, a 3D printer, a Raspberry Pi computer and a Cricut cutting machine, as well as furniture and related supplies to support curriculum programs and to improve learning outcomes of students.

Library Director Laurence Gavin said the Makerspace Lab will be an active learning space where students will be able to work independently or in small groups to create, learn and share ideas to achieve their educational goals through access to a variety of educational technologies.

The grant funds were provided by the Institute through the federal Library Services and Technology Act, which aims to help libraries deliver relevant and up-to-date services for their communities. The State Library of North Carolina administers the grant program in this state and funds projects in libraries across the state that advance excellence and promote equity by strengthening capacity, expanding access and community engagement.

The Paul H. Thompson library received one of 47 competitive grants awarded to North Carolina libraries for fiscal year 2021-2022 from a federal allotment of $4.8 million. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas.

Through the LSTA Grants to States program IMLS provides funds to State Library agencies using a population-based formula. State libraries may use the appropriation to support statewide initiatives and services; they may also distribute the funds through competitive subgrants to public and academic libraries. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.

For more information about North Carolina’s LSTA program visit the State Library of North Carolina’s LSTA web page at https://statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/services-libraries/grants-libraries/lsta-grant-information or contact the State Library’s Federal Programs Consultant at 919-814-6796.