Enrich Iowa Reports

Due July 31

Libraries that receive Enrich Iowa funds through the Open Access, Interlibrary Loan, or Direct State Aid programs must submit reports by July 31.  Library directors will need to file Enrich Iowa Reports indicating your library’s Open Access and ILL transactions.  In addition, directors need to report what was purchased with your library’s share of Direct State Aid funding. 

Open Access enables eligible Iowans to check out physical materials at over 600 participating Iowa public and academic libraries. As a result, Iowans have greater access to more library resources, more choices in library service, and the convenience of using a library where they work, shop, or visit  Open Access Report Form for FY23

Interlibrary Loan provides Iowans with equal access to library materials by supporting resource sharing among all types of libraries. Participating libraries agree to lend their materials to other libraries across the state; the lenders receive a subsidy per loan. More than 200,000 interlibrary loans are made annually through the program.  Important Note: No report is necessary if all loans were made through the SILO ILL System or through OCLC Resource Sharing. Use the ILL Request for Reimbursement Online Form only if you have any ILL loans beyond those made through the SILO-ILL or OCLC-ILL to report.

Direct State Aid is the funding awarded to Iowa’s public libraries for meeting service standards.  The standards program, outlined in the document In Service to Iowa: Public Library Standards, is intended to achieve consistency in library service statewide and to uphold best practices.  Direct State Aid Online Report Form FY23

The Open Access and Direct State Aid Reports require a user name and password.  Hint: it’s the same user name and password assigned to your library for completing the Annual Survey.  If you need help accessing this information, contact your District Office or Toni Blair at the State Library Des Moines Office.

The Impact of Enrich Iowa Funding

RAGBRAI's 50th Anniversary

This week is the 50^th anniversary of RAGBRAI.  And fittingly, the event kicked off in Sioux City this weekend to commemorate Sioux City as the site of the first RAGBRAI ride in Year #1. RAGBRAI stands for Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa:  the oldest, largest, and longest recreational bicycle touring event in the world.  

Local news coverage here in Sioux City has been great, highlighting facts, stats, and human interest stories from riders who love this chance to visit Iowa’s cities and towns, re-connecting with fellow bikers and making new friends along the way.  Speaking of Iowa’s cities and towns, this week’s RAGBRAI route includes stops in Storm Lake, Carroll, Ames, Des Moines, Tama-Toledo, Coralville, and Davenport.  

To spotlight the 50th anniversary and this year’s launch in Sioux City, the Sioux City Public Library staff created a local history display Fifty Years of RAGBRAI: 1973-2023.  The display pictured above celebrates this milestone and its many starts in Siouxland.  As SCPL staff say “this is a great chance to cruise through RAGBRAI's history, facts, photos, and fun from its start until now.” 

Iowa libraries are quite acumstomed to rolling out the welcome mat for RAGBRAI riders each year.  From offering refreshments, to WiFi, to family programs, sometimes camping on the library lawn, riders are sure to find Iowa’s libraries to be a relaxing and cool place to spend time this week—or any week!

Read All About RAGBRAI

Click here to View More Information About State Library of Iowa: Monday Morning Eye-Opener - July 24, 2023