It’s not exactly *free* money, since we know a lot of time and energy goes into grant applications. But who can turn down such great offers? Jump on these as soon as possible, the deadlines start as early as January 25.
Great Stories CLUB
Connect with hard-to-reach, underserved teens by conducting a Great Stories CLUB reading and discussion program in your library. Online applications will be accepted through February 1, 2008.
We the People “Created Equal” Bookshelf
Each year, the National Endowment for the Humanities identifies a theme important to the nation’s heritage and selects books that embody that theme to build the We the People Bookshelf. The theme for the 2007-2008 Bookshelf is “Created Equal.” Public libraries are invited to apply online through January 25, 2008.
2008 National Leadership Grants
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is accepting grant applications for the agency’s 2008 National Leadership Grant (NLG) program. IMLS offers applicants an online tutorial for developing a project plan for a NLG applicationThe deadline for submitting applications is February 1, 2008.
PLA will award nine public libraries with a lump sum of $8,000 each to be distributed to as many of their employees as they choose for the purpose of working toward obtaining an MLS– $6,500 is to be used directly for payment of tuition at an ALA-accredited library school; $1,500 is to be used to support attendance for one or more of the selected scholarship recipients to attend a PLA-sponsored continuing education event such as the 2009 PLA Spring Symposium.
One library from each of the nine PLDS size categories will be selected. The categories are:
Group 1 Service population of 1 million and over
Group 2 Service population of 500,000-999,999
Group 3 Service population of 250,000-499,999
Group 4 Service population of 100,000-249,999
Group 5 Service population of 50,000-99,999
Group 6 Service population of 25,000-49,999
Group 7 Service population of 10,000-24,999
Group 8 Service population of 5,000-9,999
Group 9 Service population under 5,000
The deadline for applications is December 3, 2007 at 5:00 CST. All applications must be submitted through an online application form available at www.pla.org.
Interested in the connection between libraries and the publishing world? The Women’s National Book Association sponsors the WNBA Eastman Grant offers a grant of up to $750 for a librarian to take a course or participate in an institute devoted to aspects of publishing as a profession.
Application guidelines (there is no official form, but there is a list of materials you must submit) are available on the WNBA Eastman Grant page of the ALA web site. You need to have an MLS (or MLS equivalent) and have two years of post-master’s work to apply. Applications are due November 1, so apply today! Winners will be announced at the 2008 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia.
Dollar General Youth Literacy Grants
“Provide funding to schools, public libraries and nonprofit organizations to help with the implementation or expansion of literacy programs for students who are below grade level or experiencing difficulty reading.” Application deadlines: October 5, 2007; February 5, 2008. NOTE: Dollar General also lists literacy grants for adults and families, with application periods beginning in January 2008.
Light the Way: Outreach to the Underserved Grant Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) & Candlewick Press
“This one-time grant of $5000 will be presented in honor of Newbery Medalist and Geisel Honoree Kate DiCamillo to a library conducting exemplary outreach to underserved populations… Special population children may include those who have learning or physical differences, those who are speaking English as a second language, those who are in a non-traditional school environment, those who are in non-traditional family settings (such as teen parents, foster children, children in the juvenile justice system, and children in gay and lesbian families), and those tho need accommodation service to meet their needs.” Application deadline: December 3, 2007.
(I came into this program a little bit late, so I missed the introduction and the first few stories)
I had read an article about this program from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities in my Literacy for Special Population course last Fall at Simmons College, so I was curious to hear more and decided to attend this Sunday morning program.
Prime Time is a family literacy program comprised of 6 to 8 week sessions with reading, discussion and storytelling at public libraries and other locations. Each session involves the reading of a few books by a professional storyteller, followed by a discussion led by a “scholar” (usually a university professor). Librarians have the opportunity to market library resources to the program participants during each session. The books are selected for their multicultural representations and the opportunities they offer for discussions of humanities topics.
The program was started in Louisiana in 1991, but has since spread across many other states thanks to grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and support from ALA. Librarians who plan to implement Prime Time at their library participate in an intense training session in New Orleans several times a year.
During the conference session, we heard stories from a number of librarians who have planned Prime Time at their libraries. Sue Warner from Kalamzoo City Public Library and other librarians from across the U.S. shared their experiences, the ways they made the program work for their community, and their passion for this wonderful program. They all emphasized that this program requires a great deal of planning and is not cheap, but that the rewards are immeasurable.
Prime Time has applied for more funding for 2008 and hopes to support more libraries in the upcoming year both through training and through funding the first series of programming. Check out the ALA site in late August/early September for more information about available grants for Prime Time. For more information about the program see their web site: http://www.leh.org/html/primetime.html
PLA receives Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant to help public libraries build skills and experience needed to increase local support and funding $7.7 million grant will fund national training program for library staff and supporters
(Washington, D.C.) – Susan Hildreth, president of the Public Library Association (PLA) announced during the 2007 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded PLA a $7.7 million grant to develop and provide a national advocacy training program for public librarians over the next three years.
Research shows that the public is often unaware of the contributions libraries and librarians make to the health and vitality of their communities. As a result, libraries—which receive more than 80 percent of their funding from local sources—are often overlooked when scarce state, and local financing are allocated among critical services in a community. To help library staff and supporters counter this trend, PLA’s training program will provide librarians with the skills and resources necessary to seek increased funding, create community partnerships, and build alliances with local and regional decision makers. The training will support libraries that are eligible to receive Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Opportunity Online hardware grants, which require grantees to match foundation funds with local dollars. It will also be available to non-grantees on a limited basis.
“It is imperative that all librarians and library supporters learn to position their public library as an essential community resource in ways that resonate with local stakeholders and result in increased local funding,” said Jill Nishi, program manager of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s U.S. Libraries initiative. “This professional development program will give people the skills they need to channel their passion and commitment to libraries into strategic community outreach and communications.”
The training will be offered in sites around the country for Gates Foundation grantees, as well as online and during the PLA National Conference and the PLA Spring Symposium. Foundation grantees will be encouraged to send teams of up to three people to the locally customized training where they will learn about and create advocacy plans grounded in the reality of their local, political and economic environment. Each participant will also receive the PLA publication Libraries Prosper with Passion, Purpose and Persuasion: A PLA Toolkit for Success, which will provide them with step-by-step instructions for implementing their advocacy plan. Finally, the training will include access to an online community, which will provide original content, managed discussions and ongoing support for libraries engaged in local campaigns to build public support and funding.
“As outlined in PLA’s strategic plan, advocacy is a priority for our organization,” said Hildreth. “Thanks to the generous support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, we will be able to reach thousands of librarians with the training they need to build the skills and confidence necessary to effectively advocate for increased public funding for their libraries.”
###
Contact:
Louisa Worthington
PLA, Manager of Communication
312-280-5024
Allison Davis
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
206-709-3400
For more information about PLA, visit PLA’s Web site at www.pla.org or contact the PLA office at 800-545-2433, ext. 5PLA, or PLA is a division of the American Library Association. PLA’s core purpose is to strengthen public libraries and their contribution to the communities they serve. Its mission is to enhance the development and effectiveness of public library staff and public library services.
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people — especially those with the fewest resources — have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, the foundation is led by CEO Patty Stonesifer and co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. More information is available at: www.gatesfoundation.org.
I posted about the Arthur TV Series Grants earlier in December, bemoaning the fast-approaching December 18 deadline. As it turns out, the deadline has been extended to December 31. Read the post about the grants for more information and how to apply.
Also upcoming is the January 31, 2007 deadline for the We The People Bookshelf Grants. In spring 2007, ALA and NEH will be awarding a Bookshelf - 15 classic books for young readers on the “Pursuit of Happiness” theme - to 2,000 school (K-12) and public libraries. Selected libraries will also receive four of the titles in Spanish translation, a bonus CD, bookplates, bookmarks and posters to promote local programming.
While you’re planning for the new year with grants applications and other program plans, don’t forget to include professional development! The 2007 PLA Spring Symposium will be held in San Jose from March 1-3, and will cover topics including:
This came to my attention very recently through the ALA Public Programs listserv. The deadline for application submission is very tight (December 18, 2006), but it seems like it would be worth the hustle and trouble for interested libraries. All bold emphasis mine.
Dear Library Colleague:
In the spring of 2006, Arthur marked a milestone that few children’s-or adult-series ever attain: ten seasons on the air! To celebrate the occasion, the WGBH Educational Foundation is pleased to launch Arthur’s 10th Anniversary Literacy Initiative, a new outreach effort targeting public libraries.
This new outreach effort is designed to use the series’ continuing popularity to support two intersecting target audiences-libraries and parents. Many parents become library users when their children are toddlers and preschoolers. Many also know the importance of reading aloud to support their children’s literacy development. However, as their children age and become readers themselves, parents often relegate responsibility for their children’s reading success to teachers and become less aware of how libraries can support them and their children as they grow older.
WGBH will award grants in the amount of $1,000 each to 15 public libraries, asking them to design projects using the Arthur resources and targeting parents and children, including soon-to-be as well as independent readers. We seek libraries that represent diversity in size, location, and population served (with an emphasis on reaching at-risk audiences), and will also consider the creativity of their approach and the strength of their community partners (including local PBS stations), which will be essential to access families not currently served by the library.
If you have questions on the grant application, please feel free to contact Natalie Hebshie, Arthur Outreach Coordinator, at 617/300-3639 or by e-mail at .
Sincerely,
WGBH Educational Outreach
What You Can Expect from WGBH:
A $1,000 grant to defray the cost of staff time and materials required to develop targeted outreach activities for kids and families.
Arthur Library Event Guide. This online resource includes ideas to engage kids across the age spectrum in reading activities.
Let’s Read! (in English and Spanish). This family activity booklet offers ideas for how parents can support their children’s literacy at different ages.
Arthur anniversary stickers and pencils for distribution to young patrons
Read Aloud Book Club Kit for young readers, including six book club session cards with activity suggestions, and books for distribution.
Arthur-themed bulletin board decorations.
What WGBH Expects From Your Library:
Design outreach activities that support kids and families.
Partner with your local PBS Station on your outreach activities.
Utilize ideas and activity suggestions from the Arthur Library Event Guide.
Distribute Arthur outreach materials, including Let’s Read!, stickers, and pencils.
Publicize your activities.
Complete and submit a final report on your outreach activities (final report form provided by WGBH).
Dates to Keep in Mind:
Grant applications due to WGBH Educational Outreach: December 18, 2006
15 grantees selected and notified: January 2, 2007
Grantees complete final report and submit to WGBH: April 30, 2007
Questions? Please contact Natalie Hebshie, Arthur Outreach Coordinator at 617/300-3639 or by e-mail at .
3M Library Systems sponsors a grant for members of ALA’s New Members Round Table (NMRT) to go to the ALA Annual conference for just about free. The grant itself covers round trip airfare, lodging, conference registration fees and some incidental expenses. The catch: you need to be a current NMRT member to apply, and there is a small list of conditions of acceptance. All small prices to pay, especially for a new public librarian.
The deadline for application is December 15, 2006, and the selection will take place at ALA Midwinter in Seattle. Visit the NMRT/3M Award Information page for details and to fill out the online application form.
These two tidbits came to me care of the ALA Public Programs Office email list. There are more grants and awards (with upcoming deadlines), events, and news listings listed on the ALA Public Programs Office part of the ALA site, as well as information on how to subscribe to the email listserv.
Carnegie Whitney Grant Deadline Approaching http://www.ala.org/work/pubs/Carnegie.html
The American Library Association Publishing Committee provides a grant of up to $5000 for the preparation of print or electronic reading lists, indexes, or other guides to library resources that promote reading or the use of library resources at any type of library. Applications must be received by November 6, 2006. Recipients will be notified by the end of February 2007.
ALA Seeks Grant Applicants for New We the People Bookshelf http://www.ala.org/wethepeople
This year, we are offering 2,000 sets of classic books for children on the theme the “Pursuit of Happiness.” To apply, simply complete the easy online application by describing how your library will create a theme-related program that highlights the Bookshelf titles. Applications are due by January 31, 2007.
