Library Improvement Grants Now Available for 2017

Library Improvement Grants Now Available for 2017 The 2017 Library Improvement Grants, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) from Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant monies, are now available. Nebraska accredited public libraries and certain state-run institutional libraries are eligible to apply for these competitive grants to help facilitate growth and development of library programs and services by supplementing local funding with federal funds designated for these purposes. In keeping with the goals of the Library Services and Technology Act, the Library Improvement Grants are intended to help libraries meet the goals of the Nebraska Library Commission’s LSTA Five-Year Plan 2013 – 2017. To be funded projects must meet one or more of specific LSTA Purposes listed at the following link. Funding to help libraries join the statewide Pioneer Consortium will receive priority consideration as grant applications are evaluated. Other requirements include a 25% local match. At least 10% of this match must be in cash. Federal LSTA grants involve meeting certain other requirements which are outlined at the link above and in grant agreement documents for approved projects. The minimum grant amount is $500. Libraries submitting grant applications will notice that the application form has been changed quite a bit from those used in the past. However, the only changes made from last year’s grant form are the addition of spaces for an Executive Summary of the grant and for an explanation of budget amounts proposed.  The changes made on last year’s and this year’s grant form meet federal reporting guidelines which will allow IMLS to present cogent and cohesive reports on the use of federal LSTA monies to Congress as part of its efforts in support of continuing this funding for library services nationwide. NOTE: Availability of federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant monies for the Library Improvement Grants are contingent upon LSTA funding and federal action on appropriations not yet determined for the current federal fiscal year. This means that the Commission will need to wait until decisions have been made at the national level to know if these Library Improvement Grants can be funded. We do not know the dates these decisions will be made. This link will take you directly to the grant application form. Pertinent dates to remember: • December 6, 2016 – Application form available • January 24, 2017 – Applications due by 11:59 PM Central Time • February 14, 2017 – Grant recipients announced NOTE: For more information be sure to tune in at 10 am CT (9 am MT) for the NCompass Live session on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 for the “Library Improvement Grants for 2017” session. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at the Commission: Richard Miller richard.miller@nebraska.gov Nebraska Library Commission The Atrium, Suite 120 1200 N Street Lincoln, NE 68508-2023 800-307-2665 or 402-471-3175