Dundee Library Receives Multiple Grants
Dundee Library Receives Multiple Grants
Small Community. Small Victories. Large Results.
DUNDEE, NY – January 30, 2026
Over the course of the winter, the Dundee Library has been awarded several local and regional grants to support programming and services across multiple areas. Through the Southern Tier Library System, the library received a joint award with Penn Yan Public Library totaling $2,000, split equally between the two institutions. The purpose of the award is to support outreach to underserved populations within each library’s service area.
“We’re going to be using our portion of the funds in two different ways,” said Dundee Library Director, Dusty Baker. “A large portion of the funds will be used to purchase Amazon Fire tablets that will be shared with residents of St. Mark’s Terrace, and the remainder will support a monthly pop-up mini library in Himrod.” According to Baker, apps such as Libby, Kanopy, and Mango will be installed on the tablets. This will allow residents of the senior living community to access audiobooks, e-books, free streaming services, and language courses.
The library currently brings a small collection of large-print books to St. Mark’s Terrace on a monthly basis. Following discussions with St. Mark’s Executive Director Jaimi Shoemaker, both organizations felt residents would enjoy, and benefit from, access to tablets and the much wider range of resources they provide. The library will supply the devices, accounts, and services, as well as offer training for both residents and Terrace staff.
The monthly pop-up mini library will take place at Smoke N Dough BBQ & Pizza, located at 3586 Route 14 in Himrod. On the fourth Saturday of each month, Baker or another member of the library staff will be on site offering remote checkout of library materials. “We hope to reach an even more rural population by offering these pop-up events,” Baker said. “I’ve met Daria and her husband at the restaurant, and they’ve welcomed the library with open arms and are excited to offer these services to their regular patrons.” The pop-up library will begin on Saturday, March 28, and continue monthly through the end of the year. Several dozen books from a variety of genres will be available, and a community “wish list” will be established. The library will also include other materials to check out like DVDs and audio books on CDs.
In addition, the Dundee Library received a $500 micro-grant through the Southern Tier Library System to purchase Wonderbooks. Wonderbooks are physical books with built-in audio recordings that allow readers to listen and read along to the story. This micro-grant allowed the library to add 11 new Wonderbooks to its collection. According to Baker, the Wonderbooks have already become a huge hit with patrons, prompting additional purchases using funds from a literacy grant awarded last summer.
Most recently, the library was awarded funding through the newly established Sustainable Finger Lakes Neighborhood Mini-Grants program. This grant focuses on resilience, equity, environmental stewardship, and civic engagement. The Dundee Library received $450 to purchase medical and health equipment for patrons to borrow. These items, such as stethoscopes, otoscopes, and blood pressure cuffs, are tools that may not be needed regularly but can be difficult or costly for individuals to obtain. Baker coordinated with Finger Lakes Community Health President, Mary Zelazny, to ensure the selected items were those medical providers most wished patients had access to.
Together, these grants reflect the Dundee Library’s continued commitment to meeting community needs in innovative, practical, and inclusive ways. From expanding access to digital resources and literacy tools, to bringing library services beyond its walls, and supporting community health, each award helps strengthen the library’s role as a vital and evolving community resource. As Baker noted, “These grants allow us to meet people where they are and respond directly to what our community has told us they need.”
About Dundee Library and the Community Foundation
The Dundee Library has been a cornerstone of the community for more than a century, providing access to information, lifelong learning opportunities, and welcoming spaces for patrons of all ages. In addition to a diverse collection of materials, the library offers programs, events, and resources that support education, creativity, and community engagement. To learn more about the library or to make a donation, please visit dundeelib.org.
