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 April 2026 winner of the ByWater Community Giveback, the Salina Public Library in Kansas! The funds will be used to support the purchase of public-use technology for the new Youth Services department.
Allyson Walker, Head of Fundraising & Development at the Salina Public Library, commented:
Salina Public Library serves over 145,000 visitors annually and supports more than 32,000 cardholders across the Salina area and beyond. Annually we offer 1,750+ programs that reach more than 31,000 participants, and we consistently see high demand for hands-on learning, technology access, and creative spaces for young people. To better meet this need, we are currently constructing a new Youth Services department, designed to support learning, exploration, and connection through welcoming spaces and modern resources. This project is estimated to be completed in early June 2026.
If selected for the ByWater Community Giveback, funds would be used to purchase new public-use technology equipment needed for the Youth Services department, which could include items such as computers, interactive displays, TVs, or gaming and digital learning equipment. These technology tools will allow youth not only to engage in creative and educational activities, but also to independently access the library catalog and other digital library resources, helping them discover materials, explore interests, and build confidence navigating library systems.
This technology investment will increase access to modern, age-appropriate tools and help ensure our new Youth Services department opens with the resources young people need to build independence as learners."
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
About ByWater Solutions
ByWater Solutions is a full service, high-quality Open Source support and implementation company dedicated to providing libraries with a lower cost, more advanced level of support for their systems than a traditional proprietary solution can offer. ByWater Solutions has a proven track record in the first-rate implementation and support services with library systems of all sizes for the Koha ILS, Aspen Discovery, Folio LSP, Coral ERM, and Libki PC Management.
Our highly ranked, comprehensive support is what sets our company apart from any other vendor in the industry. Partnering with ByWater Solutions not only lowers the cost of implementation and maintenance of OSS but more importantly empowers libraries by giving them the flexibility and freedom they deserve. For more information please visit https://bywatersolutions.com.