ByWater Solutions Announces October 2021 Community Giveback Winner

by Kalleen Marquise on Oct 15, 2021

Each month, ByWater Solutions selects one library to be awarded $500. These funds are meant to support libraries and their communities and fill gaps in funding to further library goals.

We are excited to announce our October 2021 winner of the ByWater Community Giveback, the Corona Public Library in Corona, California.

The Corona Public Library welcomes and supports all people in the enjoyment of reading and pursuit of lifelong learning. Working together, they strive to provide access to information, ideas and knowledge through books, technology, programs, services and other resources. They believe in the freedom to read, to learn and to discover.

The funds from the ByWater Community Giveback will be used to help diversify Corona Public Library's collections. The Corona Public Library is without Interlibrary Loan services after budget cuts brought the program to an end more than 10 years ago. In 2018, the library was able to bridge the gap created by a lack of ILL services, through the California State Library’s Zip Book program. The Zip Books Grant Program is patron driven and allows Corona Public Library to purchase patron requested books and audio books. The material is sent directly to the patron and when they are finished with the material they return it to library for potential inclusion in the collection.

Upon reviewing the types of Zip Book requests received over the last three years, Corona Public Library realized that there was need within the community for a more diverse collection. Earlier in September 2021, the Corona Public Library contracted with Baker & Taylor for CollectionHQ’s DEI Analysis service to identify gaps in the collection. Thanks to Enica Davis at ByWater Solutions, a full MARC file of their collection is currently with CollectionHQ for analysis.

The ByWater Community Giveback funds and matching funds from the Friends of the Corona Public Library will be the seed money for diversifying their collection based on the analysis results. The Corona Public Library is striving to create a collection that contains a variety of ideas, information, and experiences that reflect the diversity of their community.

On behalf of the Corona Public Library, Friends, and community - THANK YOU!! I’m so thrilled! ByWater is always so supportive. Your organization has taken us to the next level in diversifying our collection and allowed us to include our Friends in the process." - Jennifer Marlatt, Corona Public Library

About the ByWater Community Giveback

We will select one library a month to donate $500 to their Non-profit 501c3 organization such as Friends of the Library, Library Foundation, or other funding entity. These funds are meant to support libraries and their communities and fill gaps in funding to further library goals. We LOVE libraries. Our team is made up of librarians and library fanatics. We're always looking for ways to give back and create opportunities where we can to support libraries. This is a small token of thanks for all the hard work libraries do in their communities every day.

Learn More About the Program and How to Apply.

If you have more questions, please contact: Outreach@bywatersolutions.com