Library receives $2,000 mini-grant to help achieve a complete count in 2020 Census

Westerville, OH
Attention: This post is over 2 years old and the information may be out of date.Attention: This post is over 2 years old and the information may be out of date.

On December 19, 2019, the American Library Association announced that the Westerville Public Library will be one of 59 libraries receiving Library Census Equity mini-grants of $2,000 to bolster service to hard-to-count communities and help achieve a complete count in the 2020 Census. 

“The 2020 Census will determine how political representation and critical resources are distributed for the next ten years, and libraries are essential partners in making sure the data collected as part of the Census is complete and accurate,” said ALA President Wanda Brown. “The efforts of these 59 libraries will shine a light on all the library workers across the country who are shouldering efforts to reach and inform their communities—especially vulnerable and hard-to-count populations—about the importance of a full and inclusive count.”

The 2020 Census includes a new online response option. The Westerville Public Library's work will provide additional support to help overcome common hurdles such as lack of internet access or computer skills, lack of transportation, language barriers, or common misconceptions about the Census. 

The library will be partnering with multiple community organizations including the Columbus Bhutanese Nepalese Association, the Franklin County Department of Aging, and the Somali Association of Columbus. 

For more information, visit ALA.org, opens a new window.

About the 2020 Census

By April 1, 2020, every home will receive an invitation to participate the 2020 U.S. Census. If you live in the United States, you are required by law to complete the census by answering a short list of questions. 
 
You will be able to respond to the Census online, by phone, or by mail. Starting in February 2020, stop by the library to fill out the census using the dedicated station on the second floor of the library, or the courtesy phones on the first floor. Free service. No library card required. 
 
Every 10 years, the results of the census are used to:
  • distribute more than $675 billion in federal funds
  • determine how many seats each state gets in Congress
  • draw boundaries for congressional, state legislative, and school districts
  • inform business decisions, policy, community initiatives, and consumer advocacy
The Census Bureau is bound by law to protect your answers and keep them strictly confidential. For more information, visit 2020census.gov, opens a new window. 
 
 
Last updated: 12/19/2019 
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