The Jaffrey Public Library has received a $23,000 grant from Jaffrey manufacturer MilliporeSigma to implement science, technology, engineering, art and math programs at the library.
The Jaffrey Public Library has received a grant from MilliporeSigma each year since 2019. They were invited once again to apply for a $10,000 grant for their 2026 STEAM Learning program.
Library Director Julie Perrin said she submitted the grant application, and in August, received notification that not only had the library received the grant, but that the grant donation had been increased to $23,000.
“Just when we were starting to feel the impact of funding losses at the state and federal level, it was an exceptional boost to our spirits and our plans to receive such a generous contribution to support another year of science education and great programming at the library,” Perrin said.
In past years, the grant has been used to purchase permanent equipment for the library, including iPads, microscopes, an electrostatic generator and 3D pens. Grant funds have also been used to pay for summer programming related to science and create take-home experiment kits on science topics.
The Jaffrey Public Library Board of Trustees is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the acceptance of the funds at the Jaffrey Public Library on Tuesday at 3:45 p.m.
This grant joins two other grant awards earned by the library this year. The library has also been awarded a $20,000 Moose Plate grant for historic preservation of the library building. The grant is provided by the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources, and is provided under the Conservation License Plate Program, or “Moose Plate” program, which raises funds through selling specially designed car license plates.
Specifically, this funding is earmarked for window restoration in the Clay Memorial Library building, the original section of the library.
The improvements will held preserve the historic windows, and reduce heat loss and energy consumption in the library. The work began in late August. The windows will be restored off-site.
Earlier this spring, the library received a $14,000 Sustainable & Resilient New England Libraries Grant from the Association for Rural & Small Libraries, through the Manton Foundation.
The grant provided drinking fountains and bottle-filling stations on the first two floors of the library. The library’s old fountain was removed decades ago, due to old cast iron plumbing. The funds covered the cost to adjust the existing drains to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as the fountains themselves.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.