Catalyst Grant Final Report
“Libraries of the Future”
Please provide a brief narrative explaining your project and its outcomes.
Our original project aimed to collaborate with Oneida City School District art teachers and their classes on a special gallery, “Libraries of the Future,” celebrating the Oneida Public Library’s 100th anniversary. Students would envision what libraries might look like in the next 100 years, with grant funds covering frames, easels, and other display supplies. Unfortunately, this collaboration fell through. However, we successfully pivoted by opening the gallery to the entire community, offering cash prizes for first and second place winners based on votes (details are on the uploaded poster). Although we received only five submissions—mostly from children—the response has been tremendous, with many visitors casting votes and viewing the artwork as they enter the library!
What is the most remarkable accomplishment or finding of your project?
The most remarkable accomplishment was being able to provide framing supplies for many community members to display their work using the frames we purchased with grant money, including a family who showcased their late father’s photography of Oneida from the 1940s through the 1960s (photos of this gallery are included). Local children and teens have been able to display their work with the frames and the library has been able to promote our new, year long programming “Around the World at Oneida Library”. In the next few months we will be working with our local BOCES to display the winners of their calendar contest that they do every year with students’ art work. This will be the first time winners and “honorable mentions” will be able to show off their work to the community. These frames and gallery supplies have made the library even more accessible than ever before for our artistic community and we are so thrilled to be able to do this for them. This catalyst grant award will live on for many years and galleries to come.
How did your project differ from what you originally proposed?
Our original plans for our “Libraries of the Future” project changed drastically when the school district backed out of the project at the very last minute. We pivoted to open it to everyone in our community and make it a contest with a cash prize which I discussed with Ms. Honsinger.
Ariel Bero
Librarian, Oneida Public Library
Are you interested in applying for a Catalyst Grant? Check out the grant page for the rules & requirements!