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Category Archives: Grants
Apply for programming support with the third annual ALA Peggy Barber Tribute Grant
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
The American Library Association (ALA) invites library workers to apply for the third annual Peggy Barber Tribute Grant, a programming grant named after the transformative ALA leader responsible for the creation of National Library Week and the Celebrity READ series.
The Peggy Barber Tribute Grant is an annual grant that recognizes, promotes, and supports meaningful programs in libraries that have limited and/or no access to budgetary support for programming. This grant aims to help ease budget challenges by annually awarding three libraries $2,500 to support a proposed program, program series, or programming effort.
Applications for the award will be accepted from December 1, 2022, to February 1, 2023. Read the grant guidelines and apply online.
Each year, the grant will focus on supporting a specific type of library programming. For the 2022–2023 cycle, libraries are invited to submit applications for a grant to support programming related to increasing access for groups that are identified as undeserved or new library users in the community. Some example proposals could include increasing access to library resources for homebound seniors, media literacy focused programming and kits for patrons re-entering society to learn about local resources.
All library types — including public, academic, K-12, tribal and special libraries — in the U.S. or U.S. territories are eligible. Applicants must have a personal or institutional membership with either the American Library Association OR the Association for Rural & Small Libraries.
Peggy Barber served as ALA’s associate executive director of communications from 1970 to 2000. In that role, she established ALA’s Public Information Office, Public Programs Office and the ALA Graphics department. After leaving ALA, she was a principal consultant with Library Communication Strategies and served as co-president of Friends of Libraries USA, now known as United for Libraries. She passed away in August 2019.
The Peggy Barber Tribute Grant was created with donations from Barber’s friends and colleagues. To support the grant, make a contribution to the Peggy Barber tribute fund within ALA’s Cultural Communities Fund.
To stay informed about future grants and awards offered by ALA’s Public Programs Office, sign up for the Programming Librarian e-newsletter.
Posted in Grants, Library Management, Programming, Public Relations
Tagged librariestransform
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Applications Open: ARSL & Penguin Random House Grants for Rural & Small Libraries
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
Applications for the 2022 Association for Rural & Small Libraries/Penguin Random House Grants for Rural & Small Libraries are now open!
Through the generosity of Penguin Random House, ARSL is pleased to announce this grant opportunity for small, rural libraries nationwide! This grant is available to libraries that meet both the IMLS definition for small libraries (a service population of 25,000 or fewer) and the definition for rural libraries (libraries located 5 or more miles from the nearest town of 25k or more).
Applicants may request:
One (1) monetary grant in support of a community-oriented project for up to $1,000.
or
An in-kind grant donation of up to $1,000 in equivalent value to support a circulating collection in your library.
Deadline for applications is December 12, 2022.
Notifications of funding decision will be sent to applicants by January 27, 2023.
Funded projects must be completed by December 31, 2023.
Project reports must be submitted by February 1, 2024.
The program will award grants to libraries that demonstrate a true need. Monetary grants are not limited to literacy and may be used for everything from library programming and books to resources like hotspots that help community members access important information. Library seeking support for digital collections should request a monetary grant.
View the Grant FAQ and Apply for the Grant online. Contact the ARSL Office with any questions at info@arsl.org
Posted in Grants, Library Management, Programming, Technology, Youth Services
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Apply now for Science Kits for Public Libraries (SKPL) Grants
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) – Region 4’s Science Kits for Public Libraries (SKPL) Grant program is offering up to $2,000 in funding to public libraries to establish a new circulating science kits collection. Open to public libraries that serve geographic areas inside or partially inside the IEEE-Region 4 – this includes portions of Nebraska – see the green-shaded area of this map: IEEE Regions in the USA
The Application deadline is January 16, 2023. Those libraries which have previously applied for the grant but did not receive funding are invited to submit again.
Public Libraries have a long tradition of building stronger communities by providing life-long learning opportunities for children and teens. The SKPL Team is honored to have the opportunity to enrich the services that public libraries offer. SKPL enables children, parents, and teachers the chance to borrow library kits for hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning at home or in classroom.
Visit the SKPL website, https://r4.ieee.org/skpl/ for the application form and submission details.
Region 4, Science Kits for Public Libraries (SKPL) organization is a volunteer-based organization affiliated with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). SKPL believes all children – regardless of race, gender, financial condition, or home environment – should have access to high-quality, hands-on STEM learning experiences. By making catalyst grants available to public libraries, we empower them to start their own science kit collections that are free and accessible to the public.
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Kreutz Bennett Fund Leaves $700,000 Impact
Since 2012, the Kreutz Bennett Donor-Advised Fund, an affiliated fund of the Nebraska Community Foundation, has granted over $700,000 to Nebraska’s small-town public libraries through a term endowment established by the late Shirley Kreutz Bennett, a lifelong educator originally from Harvard, Nebraska.
Kreutz Bennett’s estate gift has helped dozens of Nebraska libraries in communities with populations under 3,000 achieve a margin of excellence over the last 11 years. The Fund spent the remainder of the gift’s principal in 2022, marking over a decade of success and countless lives impacted by her generosity.
Facilities Grants supported construction of new or expanded library buildings and renovation or restoration work, Enhancement Grants allowed for improvements in library services, and Planning for Accreditation Grants covered activities and expenses associated with earning Public Library Accreditation from the Nebraska Library Commission.
“The reason she focused on that is because she did a lot of traveling and experiencing the world,” said NCF’s Kristine Gale. “She felt libraries were a way for rural Nebraskans to learn and experience things they may not otherwise be able to experience. Shirley would feel amazing about the impact she made.”
In this final year, requests were received for more than what was left in the fund, so the Nebraska Library Commission contributed American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to help cover some of the grants. As a result, all applications submitted in 2022 were funded.
The Nebraska Community Foundation and the Nebraska Library Commission screened applicants for eligibility and provided guidance for those invited to submit proposals. Each year, the Kreutz Bennett Donor- Advised Fund advisory committee, made up of Kreutz Bennett’s nieces and nephews, reviewed applications and awarded funding to match every local dollar raised.
In 2022, the final Kreutz Bennett Fund Grants were awarded to the following thirteen libraries:
- Agnes Robinson Waterloo Public Library, $14,427: outdoor learning space
- Butler Memorial Library, Cambridge, $10,000: renovations
- Clarkson Public Library, $3,000: children’s activity wall
- Davenport Public Library, $750: planning for accreditation activities
- Lied Lincoln Township Library, $13,000: outdoor learning space
- Lied Randolph Public Library, $3,800: musical outdoor playground
- Logan County Public Library, Stapleton, $1,000: OverDrive, Summer Reading Program supplies
- Maltman Memorial Public Library, Wood River, $4,000: purchase Golden Sower and Newbery Award children’s books
- Mead Public Library, $2,000: collection development
- Palmyra Memorial Library, $15,080: architectural firm site survey and conceptual designs for a new library building
- Scotia Public Library, $4,000: Story Time kits
- Sutherland Public Library, $5,041: computers, tables, chairs
- Valparaiso Public Library, $5,000: replace flooring
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Apply now for ALA’s Libraries Transforming Communities Grant: Accessible Small and Rural Communities
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
The American Library Association invites applications from small and rural libraries for the Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Accessible Small and Rural Communities grant.
Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities will offer more than $7 million in grants to small and rural libraries to increase the accessibility of facilities, services, and programs to better serve people with disabilities. ALA is now accepting applications for grants to be distributed over the next three years ranging from $10,000 to $20,000.
Applications will be accepted from November 1, 2022 through February 28, 2023 at https://www.ala.org/tools/librariestransform/libraries-transforming-communities/access
Interested applicants are encouraged to register for a free Pre-Application Webinar to be held on November 8, 2022 at 1pm CT.
The opportunity is open to any type of library in the U.S. and U.S. territories that serves a small and rural community – to be eligible, a library must have a legal service area population of 25,000 or less and be located at least five miles from an urbanized area (town/city with a population of 25,000 or greater).
Participating libraries will first conduct community input-gathering sessions to assure that their work aligns with local needs. Libraries will be required to identify the primary audience they are hoping to reach (e.g., homebound seniors, children with autism, Deaf community members) and facilitate a community conversation with the impacted populations in order to guide improvement of the library’s services. Grantees would then use the funds to create services or improve their facilities based on the needs identified by their audience.
Selected libraries will receive $10,000 or $20,000 to support costs related to their community engagement project; virtual training to assist project directors in developing their community engagement, facilitation, and disability service skills; a suite of online resources developed to support local programs; and technical and project support from the ALA Public Programs Office throughout the grant term.
Questions? Contact the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office staff at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 5045, or publicprograms@ala.org
Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities is part of ALA’s longtime commitment to preparing library workers for the expanding role of libraries. The initiative is offered in partnership with the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL). It is supported by a private donor.
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Apply for the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries Grant
For more grants like this one, check the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
DALLAS, TEXAS; October 5, 2022 — Today, the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries opened the application for grants to support school libraries, with the goal of encouraging all students to develop a love of reading and learning. Since its inception in 2002, the Laura Bush Foundation has awarded more than $19.5 million to over 3,300 schools across the country.
Grant applications are open to public, private, parochial, magnet, and charter schools that have a school library. Public schools must have a Title 1 designation and private schools must have at least 50% of the student population qualify for financial aid to be eligible. Applications will remain open until November 30, 2022. Visit www.bushcenter.org/lbf to learn more and apply.
In the 2021-2022 grant cycle, the Laura Bush Foundation awarded $1.5 million in grants to 300 school libraries across 44 states. Many librarians used the funds to update their library collections by adding more dual language titles and books that showcase a wide range of stories and perspectives.
The Laura Bush Foundation is managed as a restricted fund at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas. More information can be found at www.bushcenter.org.
George W. Bush Institute
The George W. Bush Institute is a solution-oriented nonpartisan policy organization focused on ensuring opportunity for all, strengthening democracy, and advancing free societies. Housed within the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the Bush Institute is rooted in compassionate conservative values and committed to creating positive, meaningful, and lasting change at home and abroad. We utilize our unique platform and convening power to advance solutions to national and global issues of the day. Learn more at www.bushcenter.org.
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NCompass Live: NLC Grants for 2023
Do you have a program or project you would like to see funded? Learn how to apply for the ‘NLC Grants for 2023’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, October 19 at 10am CT.
The Nebraska Library Commission is making funding available for four grants for 2023: Continuing Education & Training, Internship, Library Improvement, and Youth Grants for Excellence.
Grant applications for all 2023 NLC grants are due November 18, 2022. Don’t let your library miss out on these opportunities!
Join Christa Porter, Sally Snyder, and Holli Duggan, from the Nebraska Library Commission’s Library Development Team, as they provide an overview of the grants, including eligibility requirements and grant guidelines, the application process and grant review, timelines and deadlines. They will also share some tips on writing effective grants.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Oct. 26 – Pretty Sweet Tech – WordPress Chatbots: No Code Tools & Guides
- Nov. 9 – Reach Your Military-Affiliated Patrons with the Libraries & Veterans Toolkit
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
2023 NLC Grants are Open for Applications
Do you have an idea for a program or project you would like to see funded?
The Nebraska Library Commission has made funding available for four grants for 2023: Continuing Education & Training, Internship, Library Improvement, and Youth Grants for Excellence.
Applications are being accepted for all NLC grants right now! Don’t let your library miss out on these opportunities!
Grant applications for all 2023 NLC grants are due November 18, 2022.
For more information about these grants, register for the October 19 NCompass Live webinar, NLC Grants for 2023.
Continuing Education & Training grants help assist Nebraska libraries to improve the library services provided to their communities through continuing education and training for their library personnel and supporters. Successful applications will show how the continuing education and/or training proposed will support the library’s mission. There will be two rounds of CE Grants. The first fall grants will open in September and applications will be accepted for events/projects/classes that must be completed before June 30, 2023. The second spring round will open in March and applications will be accepted for events/projects/classes that begin after July 1, 2023.
Internship grants work to introduce high school and college students to the varied and exciting work of Nebraska libraries. The internships are intended to function as a recruitment tool, helping the student to view the library as a viable career opportunity while providing the public library with the finances to provide stipends to the student interns.
Library Improvement grants facilitate growth and development of library programs and services in Nebraska public and institutional libraries, by supplementing local funding with federal funds designated for these purposes.
Youth Grants for Excellence makes funding available specifically for innovative projects for children and young adults in accredited public libraries and state-run institutional libraries in Nebraska. The program is designed to encourage creative thinking, risk-taking, and new approaches to address problems and needs of children and young adults in your community.
Call for Speakers: Big Talk From Small Libraries 2023
The Call for Speakers for Big Talk From Small Libraries 2023 is now open!
This free one-day online conference is tailored for librarians from small libraries; the smaller the better!
Small libraries of all types – public, academic, school, museum, special, etc. – are encouraged to submit a proposal. We’re looking for seven 50-minute presentations and four 10-minute “lightning round” presentations.
Do you offer a service or program at your small library that other librarians might like to hear about? Have you implemented a new (or old) technology, hosted an event, partnered with others in your community, or just done something really cool? The Big Talk From Small Libraries online conference gives you the opportunity to share what you’ve done, while learning what your colleagues in other small libraries are doing.
Here are some possible topics to get you thinking:
- Unique Libraries
- Special Collections
- New buildings
- Fundraising
- Improved Workflows
- Staff Development
- Advocacy Efforts
- Community Partnerships
- That great thing you’re doing at your library!
Submit your proposal by Friday, December 16, 2022.
Speakers from libraries serving fewer than 10,000 people will be preferred, but presentations from libraries with larger service populations will be considered.
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2023 will be held on Friday, February 24, 2023 between 8:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (CT) via the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Speakers will present their programs from their own desktops. The schedule will accommodate speakers’ time-zones.
This conference is organized and hosted by the Nebraska Library Commission and is co-sponsored by the Association for Rural & Small Libraries.
Photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash
T-Mobile Hometown Grants Program for Small Towns
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
T-Mobile Hometown Grants is a $25 million, five-year initiative to support the people and organizations who help small towns across America thrive and grow by providing funding to kickstart important new community development projects.
Hometown Grants of up to $50,000 are given every quarter to up to 25 small towns to help fund projects to build, rebuild, or refresh community spaces that help foster local connections in your town, such as the public library, the town square pavilion, a historic building, an outdoor park, or a ball field.
Elected leaders, town managers/employees, and nonprofit leaders in small towns with populations of less than 50,000 are eligible and encouraged to apply online on the Hometown Grants website.
To select Hometown Grant recipients, T-Mobile works with Main Street America and Smart Growth America, two organizations that have decades of experience helping build stronger, more prosperous small towns and rural communities. Together, they assess applications from small towns based on level of detail and completeness, potential community impact, project viability and other factors.
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ARPA Report – Kearney Public Library
With funds granted through the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the Kearney Public Library chose to enhance its MakerSpace!
Kearney Public Library purchased two Warrior Butcher Block tables to give its patrons more space to be able to create and complete projects. The library also purchased a Glowforge Laser Cutter. This piece of equipment can cut wood, glass, etc. As time goes on, library staff hopes to learn more about what materials work with the laser cutter and be able to expand the types of things that their patrons can make.
In addition to the tables and the laser cutter, the library also purchased an HP DesignJet z9+ 44″ PostScript Printer. This printer allows staff and patrons to print large signs, banners, maps and more! Staff utilized the printer to make banners to post inside and outside the library as well as unique library displays.
Patrons showed great interest in these new pieces of equipment and were excited about what the library could offer. One woman utilized the MakerSpace to make Christmas presents for her family. Once library staff learned how to operate the new equipment, they held training sessions for patrons. These sessions were both in group settings as well as 1-on-1.
These new pieces of equipment are great additions to Kearney Public Library. They provide patrons with access to technology that they could not afford on their own. Library staff can utilize them for new programming. As patrons make use of this new technology, staff is able to plan for more useful technology purchases in the future.
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The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is result of the federal stimulus bill passed by Congress. The Nebraska Library Commission received a one-time award of $2,422,166. A portion of this funding has been allocated for three projects:Formula based grant program, NLC Library Improvement Grants, and NLC Youth Grants for Excellence.
For more information about the 2021 American Rescue Plan, visit www.nlc.nebraska.gov/grants/arpa/index.aspx
Posted in General, Grants, Library Management, Public Relations
Tagged ARPA, Kearney Public Library, Library Programing, Makerspace
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Library of Congress Connecting Communities Digital Initiative (CCDI) Grants – Applications Open
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
Applications are open for the second round of funding in the Library of Congress Connecting Communities Digital Initiative grant program.
These grants will support libraries, archives, museums and higher education institutions to create projects that remix and reuse the Library’s digital collections in creative and imaginative ways. In addition, these projects must center the lives, experiences and perspectives of Black, Indigenous, Hispanic or Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander and/or other communities of color in the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, territories and commonwealths (Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands). This program is part of the larger Of the People initiative funded by the Mellon Foundation that creates dynamic opportunities for more people to engage with the Library.
Applications are due by 12:00pm (noon) Eastern Standard Time on September 30, 2022 – extended to October 7, 2022.
Support materials for applicants can be found on the application pages for Libraries, Archives, Museums and for Higher Education Institutions, and will be updated as more resources become available.
The Library intends to award up to three Libraries, Archives, Museums grants and up to three Higher Education grants. The awards will be up to $50,000 for each grant and will support projects of up to 12 months in length.
Formal notices of funding opportunity for both libraries, archives, museums and higher education institutions can be found at the Of the People website and on Grants.gov:
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$332,471 in Library Improvement Grants Awarded to Nebraska Public and Institutional Libraries
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 5, 2022
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Christa Porter
402-471-3107
800-307-2665
$332,471 in Library Improvement Grants Awarded to Nebraska Public and Institutional Libraries
The Nebraska Library Commission recently awarded Library Improvement Grants for 2022 totaling $332,471 to seventy-four Nebraska public libraries, a library consortium, and a state-run institutional library.
These competitive grants were made available by the Nebraska Library Commission with funding provided from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the federal stimulus bill passed by Congress, as administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The Nebraska Library Commission has received a one-time award of $2,422,166. A portion of this funding was allocated for the Library Improvement Grants.
You can find the full list of grant recipients in the Nebraska Library Commission grants database at http://nlc.nebraska.gov/scripts/grants/Database/grantsdb.asp?grantnamedropdown=Library+Improvement+Grant&YearDropdown=2022&libraryDropdown=blank&cityDropdown=blank&B1=Submit
These Library Improvement Grants help to facilitate growth and development of library programs and services in Nebraska, by supplementing local funding with federal funds designated for these purposes.
In order to be funded, projects had to meet one or more of the following LSTA Purposes listed in the Commission’s long-range plan:
- Facilitate access to resources . . . for the purpose of cultivating an educated and informed citizenry;
- Encourage resource sharing among . . . libraries for the purpose of achieving economical and efficient delivery of library services to the public;
- Promote literacy, education, and lifelong learning and to enhance and expand the services and resources provided by libraries, including those services and resources relating to workforce development, 21st century skills, and digital literacy skills;
- Ensure the preservation of knowledge and library collections in all formats and to enable libraries to serve their communities during disasters;
- Promote library services that provide users with access to information through national, state, local, regional, and international collaborations and networks.
The projects and services planned include: Story Walks, makerspace equipment and supplies, indoor and outdoor furniture/shelving, laptops/tablets/PC computers, outdoor book returns, a book bike, wireless printing/copying systems, a sensory music garden, COVID-19 response and cleaning supplies, and digitization projects, as well as funding the migration of the Pioneer Consortium to a new ILS service with ByWater Solutions.
As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, “bringing together people and information.”
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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission Website, http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.
Apply Now for the PLA Digital Literacy Workshop Incentive to Expand Digital Literacy Skills in Your Community
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
Every day community members who lack basic computer knowledge and skills access their local public libraries hoping to complete life tasks many of us take for granted. The Public Library Association (PLA) is proud to partner with AT&T to expand upon its work helping libraries and their communities close the digital divide through new and improved DigitalLearn.org courses and training materials.
Applications are now open for the PLA Digital Literacy Workshop Training Incentive, supported by AT&T!
The new incentive program is designed to support library adoption of the new digital literacy courses and training materials, which are freely available in English and Spanish at DigitalLearn.org. All public libraries in the United States and Washington, DC, are eligible to apply for one of two incentive amounts.
- Tier 1 Incentive recipients will receive $4,000 and be required to conduct a minimum of three workshops reaching a total of 18 learners.
- Tier 2 Incentive recipients will receive $7,000 and be required to conduct a minimum of five workshops reaching a minimum of 50 learners.
The application deadline is June 10, 2022, at 11:59 PM Central. Applications will be reviewed and selected by PLA this summer and recipients will be announced in August. Learn more and apply at https://www.ala.org/pla/initiatives/digitalliteracy/incentive.
Reviewers Needed
PLA is also seeking library workers who are interested in serving as peer reviewers for the PLA Digital Literacy Workshop Incentive, supported by AT&T application. Serving as a peer reviewer on a national grant offering is an excellent professional development and member service opportunity that can be added to your resume or CV!
Current ALA/PLA membership is required in order to serve as a peer reviewer for this grant application. Application reviewers will be asked to read and review up to 20 applications between Monday, July 11, 2022, and Monday, July 25, 2022. Each application will take between 10–15 minutes to review. Submit your reviewer volunteer form by Friday, June 3, 2022.
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ALA announces $1.55M second round of emergency fund for libraries impacted by COVID-19
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) announced it will make available $1.55M in emergency relief grants to more than 75 libraries that have experienced substantial economic hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic. The ALA COVID Library Relief Fund invites public, school, academic, tribal, and correctional libraries across the United States and US Territories to apply for grants of $20,000.
These funds are intended to bolster library operations and services including broadening technology access, developing collections, providing digital instruction, staffing, and expanding outreach, as well as maintaining and amplifying existing service strategies or adding new ones to extend impact through the end of 2022.
Grant applications are accepted online through April 21, 2022 via the ALA website.
The ALA COVID Library Relief Fund continues to represent some of the most significant grant opportunities available to libraries outside of federal funding. Funds will support libraries’ ability to provide their users with the information services and digital access they need to retain or secure socio-economic mobility during a time of shift and upheaval. Libraries serving low income and rural communities, or communities that are predominately Black, Latino, Asian, Indigenous, and People of Color, are especially encouraged to apply.
In 2021 $1.25 million was granted to 34 libraries. More than 300 libraries applied for grants in 2021.
“This new round of grants will help to support libraries at a time when they are displaying extraordinary ingenuity and determination in creating new materials, programs, and service delivery models – and all too often doing so with limited budgets,” said ALA Executive Director Tracie D. Hall. “Over the last two years of the pandemic, we have worked hard as an association to raise the visibility of the vital and unduplicated work of libraries and library workers, especially in communities where the need is greatest.”
The ALA COVID Library Relief Fund is generously supported by Acton Family Giving as part of its pandemic responsive grantmaking.
“Libraries have faced daunting challenges throughout the pandemic,” said ALA President Patricia “Patty” Wong. “In a time when communities depend on their services, many libraries have suffered the impact of cuts that have significantly impair their ability to provide resources at this critical moment of recovery. We are so grateful to Acton Family Giving for their tremendous support, which will enable our treasured institutions to emerge more robust than ever.”
The application deadline is April 21, 2021, with awards announced on June 1, 2022. Additional information and award guidelines are available on the grant application site.
ALA’s Chapter Relations Office administers the ALA COVID Library Emergency Relief Fund. Additional information regarding Chapter Relations is available on our website. Contact: Michael Dowling, Director, Chapter Relations Office/International Relations Office, American Library Association, mdowling@ala.org
About the American Library Association
The American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more
About Acton Family Giving
Acton Family Giving supports distinct initiatives and collective efforts. Its Empathy Building Initiative, launched in 2014, partners with organizations building connections across difference and reaffirming our common humanity. This work is rooted in the belief that an empathetic society fosters stronger, healthier, and more just communities. Acton Family Giving is part of the Wildcard Giving philanthropic family.
Emergency Connectivity Fund – Third Application Filing Window Announced
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
If you missed the first two application windows for the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF), you’re in luck! The FCC has announced a third filing window will open on April 28. It’s a very short window – only 2 weeks. So, if you are considering applying, start preparing now.
IMPORTANT! The Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) is strictly for ‘off-site’ use – meaning not at the library. You cannot use the funds to purchase laptops, hotspots, or internet service that will be used within the library.
The purpose of the ECF is to address the homework gap – connecting students, teachers, and library patrons to broadband connections when they are off-campus and not at the library. The funds are to be used to provide connectivity (wi-fi hotspots and service, for example) and devices (laptops/tablets) to your library patrons to use outside of the library. They must be loaned out to your patrons to use at home or elsewhere. They cannot be used to provide internet in the library.
From the ECF announcement:
In view of outstanding demand, the FCC announced that they will open a third application filing window for schools and libraries to request Emergency Connectivity Fund Program support for eligible equipment and up to 12 months of services that will be received or delivered between July 1, 2022 and December 31, 2023 for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons with unmet needs.
The third application filing window will open on Thursday, April 28, 2022 and close on Friday, May 13, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Please see the Public Notice (DA 22-309) for additional information about the third application filing window, the service delivery date, and invoice filing deadline applicable to equipment, other non-recurring service, and recurring service requests submitted during this filing window.
Visit the Training page on the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program website to view trainings and access e-learning modules.
To stay informed about the ECF program, sign up for the weekly ECF Newsletters and read the previous newsletters at https://www.emergencyconnectivityfund.org/stay-informed/
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ARSL 2022 Conference Scholarship Applications are Open!
For more grants like these, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
Applications for four ARSL-funded competitive conference scholarships are now open! These scholarships are offered to first-time conference attendees to help cover the cost of in-person conference attendance.
The Application Window closes on May 3, 2022. See the full details about all of the scholarships and apply at https://www.arsl.org/arsl-scholarships
The 2022 ARSL Annual Conference will be held in Chattanooga, TN from September 14-17, 2022.
All scholarship awards include:
- complimentary registration to the full ARSL annual conference
- 3 paid nights in the conference hotel
The Dr. Bernard Vavrek Student Scholarship and the Founders Early-Career (1-5 years) Library Worker Scholarship also include a $500 travel stipend.
All applicants will be notified of the status of their application before the opening of Early Bird Registration on June 14.
And don’t forget to submit your Program Proposal to present at the ARSL Conference by April 12.
Grant Opportunity: 2022 John Cotton Dana Awards
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
Submissions are open for the 2022 John Cotton Dana Award (JCD). The John Cotton Dana Award is one of the most prestigious awards given to libraries and it honors outstanding library public relations. Up to eight $10,000 awards will be provided by the H.W. Wilson Foundation in 2022.
Libraries of all types and sizes are encouraged to submit entries for a 2022 John Cotton Dana Award to vie for one of the $10,000 awards. The entries should highlight a strategic communications campaign from the past year and previous winners have included rebranding efforts, promotion of archives and special collections, awareness campaigns, community partnerships and special events. Entries may be submitted by any library, Friends group, consulting agency or service provider, unless they are represented on the JCD committee.
The awards are managed by Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures (Core). The 2022 John Cotton Dana Award winners will be announced in June 2022.
To begin your submission or learn more please visit these sites:
John Cotton Dana Application Details
John Cotton Dana Evaluation Criteria
John Cotton Dana Submission Site
Learn more about the John Cotton Dana Awards from past winner and judges:
JCD – EBSCO Blog – The 2021 John Cotton Dana Awards – A Look Inside the Judging Process
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Big Talk From Small Libraries 2022 is tomorrow!
Small libraries! Awesome ideas! FREE!
Join us tomorrow for the 2022 Big Talk From Small Libraries online conference. Registration is still open, so head over to the Registration page and sign up!
We have a full agenda for the day, with speakers from academic, school, and public libraries presenting on a wide variety of topics: managing staff conflicts, serving LGBTQ+ patrons and families, genrefying library collections, university research and citation support, genealogy and local history, and much more.
This event is a great opportunity to learn about the innovative things your colleagues are doing in their small libraries.
And, Nebraska library staff and board members can earn 1 hour of CE Credit for each hour of the conference you attend! A special Big Talk From Small Libraries CE Report form has been made available for you to submit your C.E. credits.
So, come join us for a day of big ideas from small libraries!
Nebraska Library Commission Awards Grants for Youth Library Service
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 23, 2022
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Sally Snyder
402-471-4003
800-307-2665
Nebraska Library Commission Awards Grants for Youth Library Service
The Nebraska Library Commission recently awarded $115,466 in grants for Excellence in Youth service. Of the grants awarded to seventy-eight Nebraska libraries, several addressed the need for educational programs, furniture for children’s and teen spaces, book kits, and materials like LEGO®, STEAM, and other activities to encourage creativity in young people.
The Nebraska Library Commission congratulates all the libraries who received grants as they develop new and innovative programs to ensure excellence in library service for Nebraska young people. You can find the full list of grant recipients on the Nebraska Library Commission grants database.
Proposals include:
- Coding clubs
- STEAM programing and materials
- Book club activities
- Creative writing projects
- Afterschool programing
- Summer Reading programs
- Music and movement class
- New furniture for children’s and teen spaces
- Makerspace items for children/youth
- Builders’ Club with Lego
- 1000 Books Before Kindergarten
Youth Grants for Excellence are made available by the Nebraska Library Commission with funding provided from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the federal stimulus bill passed by Congress, as administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The Nebraska Library Commission has received a one-time award of $2,422,166. A portion of this funding was allocated for the Youth Grants for Excellence.
As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, “bringing together people and information.”
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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission Website, http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.
Posted in General, Grants, Information Resources, Programming, Youth Services
Tagged Youth Grants for Excellence
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