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Author Archives: Kathryn Brockmeier
Dia 2014 Mini-grants Available — Deadline is Nov. 30, 2013
The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is now accepting applications for mini-grants intended to prepare libraries to incorporate Día into their existing programs throughout the entire year. Mini-grants will be used to initiate a Día Family Book Club Program in libraries. Up to 15 mini-grants will be awarded at $2,000 each.
Intended as an expansion of El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Día), the mini-grants will be awarded to libraries that demonstrate a need to better address the diverse backgrounds within their communities.
The mini-grants are part of the Everyone Reads @ your library grant awarded to ALSC from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. In addition to these mini-grants, funding from this grant will also allow ALSC to create a Día Family Book Club curriculum that will be accessible to all.
Mini-Grant Eligibility
- Must be a public library with a demonstrated need and the capacity to address the diverse backgrounds within their community and commit to incorporating Día into existing programs.
- Must be located within 20 miles of a Dollar General Store, distribution center, or corporate office (please visit Dollar General’s Store Locator at http://www.dollargeneral.com/storeLocator)
- Must have the capability to initiate a Día Family Book Club that will meet at regular intervals a minimum of 6 times.
The deadline for applications is November 30, 2013. For more information and to access the application, go to http://dia.ala.org/dia-2014-mini-grants-available.
There’s Still Time to Apply for a 21st Century Librarian Scholarship
The Nebraska Library Commission is accepting online applications for its 21st Century Librarian Scholarship program through November 1, 2013 (https://nlc.nebraska.gov/NowHiring/Scholarships.aspx). These scholarships are for students pursuing a degree or certificate in Library and Information Science at the Associate’s and Bachelor’s levels. Legal residents of the state of Nebraska are eligible to apply. Transcripts (as required) are due October 25, 2013; and letters of recommendation, if mailed, are due October 25, 2013. Scholarships of up to $3,500 will be awarded, depending on the degree or certificate the applicant is pursuing and the applicant’s course plan.
Scholarships may be used for tuition (for coursework contributing toward a certificate or degree, including general education classes), course-required materials, and school-assessed fees at the following levels:
- Library and Information Science (LIS) Professional Certificate
- Associate of Arts or Science Degree in Library and Information Science (LIS)
- Bachelor of Arts or Science Degree/Endorsement with a major in Library and Information Science or Library Media
Scholarship recipients will be eligible to apply for stipends for such things as laptop or tablet computers, professional association dues, and regional or national conference attendance.
The scholarships, stipends, and value-added training are offered through the Nebraska Library Commission’s Cultivating Rural Librarians’ 21st Century Skills program, which is funded through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. For more information, contact Kathryn Brockmeier, Grant Program Manager, by e-mail or by phone, 402-471-4002 or 800-307-2665.
NOTE: Due to the significant number of applications for the Nebraska Library Commission master’s-level scholarships (funded through the Librarians for the 21st Century Program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services), as of July 1, 2012, graduate-level scholarships will no longer be available. Scholarships DO continue to be available for undergraduate Library Science studies, including LIS certificates, and Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.
Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries Grant Applications for School Libraries Due Dec. 2, 2013
School libraries may apply for grants of $5,000 from the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries to expand, update and diversify their library book collections. The deadline for applications is December 2, 2013. Eligibility requirements and the application are available at https://laurabushfoundation.unt.edu/lbf-grant-application.
The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries was founded in 2002 as a fund of The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region. Since its inception, the Laura Bush Foundation has awarded more than $10.5 million to schools in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands. In addition to these yearly grants, the Foundation has also awarded more than $6.3 million to school libraries in the Gulf Coast region to rebuild their library book collections that were lost or destroyed by hurricanes or storms.
The mission of the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries is to support the education of our nation’s children by providing funds to update, extend and diversify the book and print collections of America’s school libraries. Further information is available at www.laurabushfoundation.org.
Posted in General, Youth Services
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New Faces: Emily McIllece
Emily McIllece, Reference Associate and Dual Enrollment Coordinator at University of Nebraska Omaha Criss Library
In this series, New Faces, the Nebraska Library Commission will interview someone from the next generation of Nebraska librarians.
Today we are speaking with Emily McIllece, Reference Associate and Dual Enrollment Coordinator at the University of Nebraska Omaha Criss Library. She previously worked in her hometown library and another college library, and has worked as a newspaper reporter and freelance writer. Emily received her Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Missouri – Columbia in May 2013. She is a 2011 and 2012 Nebraska Library Commission / Institute of Museum and Library Services Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian scholarship recipient.
NLC: What brought you to the world of library work? How is it you went to library school?
EMILY MCILLECE: In college, I’d worked at my hometown and college libraries, both jobs I absolutely loved. But after graduation, I worked for a couple years at the Council Bluffs newspaper. It wasn’t the job for me. So, I applied for library positions and was turned down because I didn’t have the degree. Finally, I decided to take a part-time library clerk position, freelance copywrite on the side, and get my MLS. It was scary—but a great decision!
NLC: What did you learn in your coursework that surprised you the most? Complete the sentence, “I had no idea….”
EMILY MCILLECE: …how far librarianship can stretch into “non-library” roles.
NLC: How would you like to make a difference in the lives of library users or in the community your library serves?
EMILY MCILLECE: Showing students they’re not alone, that we are a fantastic resource for them, and that they shouldn’t be nervous or shy about asking for help. It’s always a neat moment when you make a connection with a student and the once daunting research assignment is suddenly obtainable.
NLC: What do you find most rewarding in your library job?
EMILY MCILLECE: When a panicked patron walks away with a smile.
NLC: What are your hobbies?
EMILY MCILLECE: Writing, sailing, horseback riding.
NLC: What are you reading right now?
EMILY MCILLECE: To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis, print book.
NLC: What’s the most useful non-library work experience you bring to a library job?
EMILY MCILLECE: My time as reporter is really handy when explaining the strengths and weaknesses in using newspaper articles as a research source. I also love to create fanvids (music videos of a genre, like Star Wars or X-Men) for my own amusement, which helps if we make video tutorials.
NLC: What does the future hold for libraries?
EMILY MCILLECE: We’re branching out. More libraries are embracing libraries as community centers, and we’re starting to see that in the academic world, too. I think we’ll always be fighting for every cent of our budget, but I think in the next few years, the general population will associate us with more than books. Books are awesome, and we’re not going to “abandon” them, but I think as we get better with marketing ourselves and integrating services into the community, people will see beyond the stacks.
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The New Faces project is made possible by a Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian grant to the Nebraska Library Commission from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Reminder: 21st Century Librarian Scholarship Applications Due Nov. 1, 2013
The Nebraska Library Commission announces the ninth cycle of its 21st Century Librarian Scholarship program (https://nlc.nebraska.gov/NowHiring/Scholarships.aspx). Legal residents of the state of Nebraska are eligible to apply. In this ninth cycle, online applications are due November 1, 2013; transcripts (as required) are due October 22, 2013; and letters of recommendation, if mailed, are due October 22, 2013. Scholarships of up to $3,500 will be awarded, depending on the degree or certificate the applicant is pursuing and the applicant’s course plan.
A former scholarship student recently said,
I really appreciate all this scholarship helped me to attain. I believe that because of this scholarship, I was able to attain knowledge that will help me throughout my library career.
Scholarships may be used for tuition (for coursework contributing toward a certificate or degree, including general education classes), course-required materials, and school-assessed fees at the following levels:
- Library and Information Science (LIS) Professional Certificate
- Associate of Arts or Science Degree in Library and Information Science (LIS)
- Bachelor of Arts or Science Degree/Endorsement with a major in Library and Information Science or Library Media
Scholarship recipients will be eligible to apply for stipends for such things as laptop or tablet computers, professional association dues, and regional or national conference attendance.
Through the associated stipends program, students have purchased laptop computers to use with their online classes, joined professional library associations, and attended regional and national conferences. For example, several scholarship students were awarded stipends to attend the ALA annual conference this past summer in Chicago.
Current scholarship recipients are participating and reporting on trainings such as hands-on eBook/eReader trainings, and live and recorded webinars about the latest Internet tools.
According to one scholarship student,
The e-reader classes allowed me to better understand the different e-readers available and how they worked. I also listened in on a couple of live webinars about customer relations and work related topics. It helped to better do my job.
Participants are networking with Nebraska librarians on the Nebraska Librarians Learning Together Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/NebraskaLibrarians.
The scholarships, stipends, and value-added training are offered through the Nebraska Library Commission’s Cultivating Rural Librarians’ 21st Century Skills program, which is funded through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. For more information, contact Kathryn Brockmeier, Grant Program Manager, by e-mail or by phone, 402-471-4002 or 800-307-2665.
NOTE: Due to the significant number of applications for the Nebraska Library Commission master’s-level scholarships (funded through the Librarians for the 21st Century Program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services), as of July 1, 2012, graduate-level scholarships will no longer be available. Scholarships DO continue to be available for undergraduate Library Science studies, including LIS certificates, and Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.
Posted in Grants, Uncategorized
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NEH Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections Grants – applications due Dec. 3, 2013
National Endowment for the Humanities Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections Grants help cultural institutions meet the complex challenge of preserving large and diverse holdings of humanities materials for future generations by supporting preventive conservation measures that mitigate deterioration and prolong the useful life of collections.
Libraries, archives, museums, and historical organizations across the country are responsible for collections of books and manuscripts, photographs, sound recordings and moving images, archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, art, and historical objects that facilitate research, strengthen teaching, and provide opportunities for life-long learning in the humanities. To preserve and ensure continued access to such collections, institutions must implement preventive conservation measures, which encompass managing relative humidity, temperature, light, and pollutants in collection spaces; providing protective storage enclosures and systems for collections; and safeguarding collections from theft and from natural and man-made disasters.
Closing date for applications: December 3, 2013
For more information, visit http://www.neh.gov/grants/preservation/sustaining-cultural-heritage-collections.
New Faces: Tina Walker
Tina Walker, Director of Learning Resources for Mid-Plains Community College
In this series, New Faces, the Nebraska Library Commission will interview someone from the next generation of Nebraska librarians.
Today we are speaking with Tina Walker, Director of Learning Resources for Mid-Plains Community College. She previously worked as a library assistant at the University of Nebraska Kearney Calvin T. Ryan Library. She also volunteered at the Kearney Public Library teaching basic computers, social networking, and research. Tina received her Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Missouri – Columbia in 2011. She is a 2011 Nebraska Library Commission / Institute of Museum and Library Services Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian scholarship recipient.
NLC: What brought you to the world of library work? How is it you went to library school?
TINA WALKER: I began working as an assistant and fell in love with reference and working with students every day. I learned that my unique background gave me skills others didn’t have and I could use them in this line of work. I was encouraged to get my MLIS from my supervisor.
NLC: What did you learn in your coursework that surprised you the most? Complete the sentence, “I had no idea that….”
TINA WALKER: …so many people were ready to move to electronic library resources.
NLC: How did the NLC/IMLS 21st Century Librarian scholarship help you with getting an education and in your career aspirations?
TINA WALKER: The scholarship allowed me to attend my first ever ALA conference and I learned a great deal about how libraries function and the vendors. I also learned about networking and how useful that is in the future.
NLC: What’s the most useful non-library work experience you bring to a library job?
TINA WALKER: My conflict resolution and mediation from the Department of Corrections. I learned in this position how to handle people and direct conflict situations.
NLC: What does the future hold for libraries?
TINA WALKER: I believe that libraries will be here in 20 years, but the intent of the library is changing. As more research continues to go digital and more information is available for free, librarians will have to keep teaching people how to find good information.
NLC: What does the future hold for librarians?
TINA WALKER: Many hours of coursework on computers, coding, techie stuff. Either learn to change with the times, or get left behind.
NLC: What are you reading right now?
TINA WALKER: Dean Koontz novels. Lisa Scottoline novels. I read Time, Readers Digest, Chronicle of Higher Education, Community College Magazine, American Libraries, and Library Journal.
NLC: Please share a favorite quote.
TINA WALKER: If I drive myself to the brink of my ability, then I don’t get stale or bored. –Dean Koontz
—
The New Faces project is made possible by a Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian grant to the Nebraska Library Commission from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
NEH America’s Historical and Cultural Organizations – applications due Aug. 4, 2013
National Endowment for the Humanities America’s Historical and Cultural Organizations grants (AHCO) grants provide support for museums, libraries, historic places, and other organizations that produce public programs in the humanities.
Grants support the following formats:
- exhibitions at museums, libraries, and other venues;
- interpretations of historic places, sites, or regions;
- book/film discussion programs; living history presentations; other face-to-face programs at libraries, community centers, and other public venues; and
- interpretive websites and other digital formats.
Types of America’s Historical and Cultural Organizations awards:
- Planning grants support the early stages of project development, including consultation with scholars, refinement of humanities themes, preliminary design, testing, and audience evaluation.
- Implementation grants support final scholarly research and consultation, design development, production, and installation of a project for presentation to the public.
Closing date for applications: August 14, 2013
For more information, visit http://www.neh.gov/grants/ahco.
NEH Digital Humanities Start-up Grants – Applications due Sept. 12, 2013
Closing Date for Applications: September 12, 2013
Award Amount: Up to $60,000
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) invites applications to the Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants program. This program is designed to encourage innovations in the digital humanities. By awarding relatively small grants to support the planning stages, NEH aims to encourage the development of innovative projects that promise to benefit the humanities. Proposals should be for the planning or initial stages of digital initiatives in any area of the humanities:
- planning and developing prototypes of new digital tools for preserving, analyzing, and making accessible digital resources, including libraries’ and museums’ digital assets;
- scholarship that focuses on the history, criticism, and philosophy of digital culture and its impact on society;
- scholarship or studies that examine the philosophical or practical implications and impact of the use of emerging technologies in specific fields or disciplines of the humanities, or in interdisciplinary collaborations involving several fields or disciplines;
- innovative uses of technology for public programming and education utilizing both traditional and new media; and
- new digital modes of publication that facilitate the dissemination of humanities scholarship in advanced academic as well as informal or formal educational settings at all academic levels.
Details are available at http://www.neh.gov/grants/odh/digital-humanities-start-grants .
Reminder: 21st Century Librarian Scholarship Applications Due June 3, 2013
The Nebraska Library Commission announces the eighth cycle of its 21st Century Librarian Scholarship program (https://nlc.nebraska.gov/NowHiring/Scholarships.aspx). Legal residents of the state of Nebraska are eligible to apply. In this seventh cycle, online applications are due June 3, 2013; transcripts (as required) are due May 24, 2013; and letters of recommendation, if mailed, are due May 24, 2013. Scholarships of up to $3,500 will be awarded, depending on the degree or certificate the applicant is pursuing and the applicant’s course plan.
Scholarships may be used for tuition (for coursework contributing toward a certificate or degree, including general education classes), course-required materials, and school-assessed fees at the following levels:
- Library and Information Science (LIS) Professional Certificate
- Associate of Arts or Science Degree in Library and Information Science (LIS)
- Bachelor of Arts or Science Degree with a major in Library and Information Science or Library Media
Scholarship recipients will be eligible to apply for stipends for such things as laptop or tablet computers, professional association dues, and regional or national conference attendance.
A former scholarship student recently said, “I finished up my certificate this last weekend and I wanted to thank the Commission for the opportunity to do this. No matter how much you think you know you always learn something. I would not have been able to do this without the financial support from the Commission. Also a big thank you for buying me a laptop, which made it so much easier for me to get the assignments done, and for sending me to the NLA/MPLA conference.”
Through the associated stipends program, students have purchased laptop computers to use with their online classes, joined professional library associations, and attended regional and national conferences. For example, several scholarship students have been awarded stipends to attend the upcoming ALA annual conference in Chicago.
Current scholarship recipients are participating and reporting on trainings such as the 21st Century Skills Seminar, hands-on eBook/eReader trainings, and live and recorded webinars about the latest Internet tools. Participants are networking with Nebraska librarians on the Nebraska Librarians Learning Together Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/NebraskaLibrarians.
The scholarships, stipends, and value-added training are offered through the Nebraska Library Commission’s Cultivating Rural Librarians’ 21st Century Skills program, which is funded through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. For more information, contact Kathryn Brockmeier, Grant Program Manager, by e-mail or by phone, 402-471-4002 or 800-307-2665.
NOTE: Due to the significant number of applications for the Nebraska Library Commission master’s-level scholarships (funded through the Librarians for the 21st Century Program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services), as of July 1, 2012, graduate-level scholarships will no longer be available. Scholarships DO continue to be available for undergraduate Library Science studies, including LIS certificates, and Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.
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NEH Humanities Collections and Reference Resources – applications due July 18, 2013
Posted Date: Apr 19, 2013
Closing Date for Applications: July 18, 2013
Award Amount: Varies
Awarding Institution: National Endowment for the Humanities
The Humanities Collections and Reference Resources (HCRR) program supports projects that provide an essential underpinning for scholarship, education, and public programming in the humanities. Thousands of libraries, archives, museums, and historical organizations across the country maintain important collections of books and manuscripts, photographs, sound recordings and moving images, archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, art and material culture, and digital objects. Funding from this program strengthens efforts to extend the life of such materials and make their intellectual content widely accessible, often through the use of digital technology. Awards are also made to create various reference resources that facilitate use of cultural materials, from works that provide basic information quickly to tools that synthesize and codify knowledge of a subject for in-depth investigation. HCRR offers two kinds of awards: 1) for implementation and 2) for planning, assessment, and pilot efforts (HCRR Foundations grants).
Details are available at http://www.neh.gov/grants/preservation/humanities-collections-and-reference-resources.
National Endowment for the Humanities Challenge Grants – applications due May 1, 2013
Posted Date: Feb 19, 2013
Closing Date for Applications: May 1, 2013
Award Amount: Varies
National Endowment for the Humanities challenge grants are capacity-building grants, intended to help institutions and organizations secure long-term improvements in and support for their humanities programs and resources. Through these awards, many organizations and institutions have been able to increase their humanities capacity and secure the permanent support of an endowment. Grants may be used to establish or enhance endowments or spend-down funds that generate expendable earnings to support and enhance ongoing program activities. Challenge grants may also provide capital directly supporting the procurement of long-lasting objects, such as acquisitions for archives and collections, the purchase of equipment, and the construction or renovation of facilities needed for humanities activities. Funds spent directly must be shown to bring long-term benefits to the institution and to the humanities more broadly. Grantee institutions may also expend up to 10 percent of total grant funds (federal funds plus matching funds) to defray costs of fundraising to meet the NEH challenge. Because of the matching requirement, these NEH grants also strengthen the humanities by encouraging nonfederal sources of support.
Applications are welcome from colleges and universities, museums, public libraries, research institutions, historical societies and historic sites, scholarly associations, state humanities councils, and other nonprofit humanities entities.
Details are available at http://www.neh.gov/grants/challenge/challenge-grants.
National Endowment for the Humanities Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions – applications due May 1, 2013
Closing Date for Applications: May 1, 2013
Award Amount: Up to $6,000
National Endowment for the Humanities Preservation Assistance Grants help small and mid-sized institutions—such as libraries, museums, historical societies, archival repositories, cultural organizations, town and county records offices, and colleges and universities—improve their ability to preserve and care for their significant humanities collections. These may include special collections of books and journals, archives and manuscripts, prints and photographs, moving images, sound recordings, architectural and cartographic records, decorative and fine art objects, textiles, archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, furniture, historical objects, and digital materials. Applicants must draw on the knowledge of consultants whose preservation skills and experience are related to the types of collections and the nature of the activities that are the focus of their projects. Small and mid-sized institutions that have never received an NEH grant are especially encouraged to apply.
Details are available at http://www.neh.gov/grants/preservation/preservation-assistance-grants-smaller-institutions.
Reminder: 21st Century Librarian Scholarship Applications Due Mar. 1, 2013
The Nebraska Library Commission announces the seventh cycle of its 21st Century Librarian Scholarship program (http://nlc1.nlc.state.ne.us/nowhiring/scholarships.asp). Legal residents of the state of Nebraska are eligible to apply. In this seventh cycle, online applications are due March 1, 2013; transcripts (as required) are due Feb. 19, 2013; and letters of recommendation, if mailed, are due Feb. 19, 2013. Scholarships of up to $3,500 will be awarded, depending on the degree or certificate the applicant is pursuing and the applicant’s course plan.
Scholarships may be used for tuition (for coursework contributing toward a certificate or degree, including general education classes), course-required materials, and school-assessed fees at the following levels:
- Library and Information Science (LIS) Professional Certificate
- Associate of Arts or Science Degree in Library and Information Science (LIS)
- Bachelor of Arts or Science Degree with a major in Library and Information Science or Library Media
Scholarship recipients will be eligible to apply for stipends for such things as laptop or tablet computers, professional association dues, and regional or national conference attendance.
A former scholarship student recently said, “I am so happy I had this opportunity. I loved it and it really helped me finish my classes for my library certification!”
Current scholarship recipients are participating and reporting on trainings such as the 21st Century Skills Seminar (Tech Rodeo, held in Crete, NE, in July, 2012), hands-on eBook/eReader trainings, and live and recorded webinars about the latest Internet tools. Participants are networking with Nebraska librarians on the Nebraska Librarians Learning Together Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/NebraskaLibrarians. Through the associated stipends program, students have purchased laptop computers to use with their online classes, joined professional library associations, and attended regional and national conferences. For example, several scholarship students have been awarded stipends to attend the upcoming ALA annual conference in Chicago.
The scholarships, stipends, and value-added training are offered through the Nebraska Library Commission’s Cultivating Rural Librarians’ 21st Century Skills program, which is funded through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. For more information, contact Kathryn Brockmeier, Grant Program Manager, by e-mail or by phone, 402-471-4002 or 800-307-2665.
NOTE: Due to the significant number of applications for the Nebraska Library Commission master’s-level scholarships (funded through the Librarians for the 21st Century Program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services), as of July 1, 2012, graduate-level scholarships will no longer be available. Scholarships DO continue to be available for undergraduate Library Science studies, including LIS certificates, and Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.
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NEA Challenge America Fast-Track Grants – applications due May 23, 2013
Posting date: Jan. 3, 2013
Application deadline: May 23, 2013
Award amount: $10,000
The National Endowment for the Arts Challenge America Fast-Track category offers support primarily to small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations — those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.
Challenge America Fast-Track grants:
- Extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations.
- Are limited to the specific types of projects outlined below.
- Are for a fixed amount of $10,000 and require a minimum $10,000 match.
- Receive an expedited application review. Organizations are notified whether they have been recommended for a grant approximately six months after they apply; projects may start shortly thereafter.
Under the Engagement project type:
An arts event or events that will feature one or more guest artists. The project (such as a festival, exhibit, recital, reading, performance, screening, broadcast, lecture) must include the participation of guest artist(s). Artistic staff and resident artists of an applicant organization do not qualify as guest artists. In addition to artists’ fees, the project may include public relations, professional documentation, and program enhancements that are integral to the event. Examples of program enhancements include interpretive material, transportation, program accommodations (e.g., sign language interpretation, audio description, Braille, tactile exhibit tours), catalogues, brochures, or publications. Other enhancements such as specific lecture-demonstrations, pre- or post-event talks, or workshops relevant to the proposed arts event also are eligible.
Closing date for applications: May 23, 2013
For more information, visit http://www.arts.gov/grants/apply/GAP14/Challenge.html.
Posted in Books & Reading, General
Tagged grants, National Endowment for the Arts, NEA
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Public Libraries Invited to Apply for Internship Grants — Applications due Feb. 15, 2013
Posting date: Dec. 17, 2012
Application deadline: Feb. 15, 2013
Award amount: $500 – $1,000
The Nebraska Library Commission’s Cultivating Rural Librarians’ Technology Skills program offers support for internships through grants to accredited public libraries. In partnership with the Nebraska Library Association and funded through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program, the internship grants increase awareness about library professions and education and the opportunities for employment in Nebraska libraries.
So, what can your library do with the internship program?
- Share your enthusiasm for library education and the library profession
- Expand your programming
- Bring in fresh faces
- Show interns what happens behind-the-scenes
- Partner with other library types to show the variety of work settings
Internship grants range from $500 to $1,000. A library may provide one 100-hour internship during the summer months that might last eight weeks, or two 50-hour internships during the school year that might last ten weeks, depending on the needs of the library and the scheduling needs and qualifications of the internship candidates. Library grantees will recruit, select, and hire their interns. Usually, interns are hired as contract workers and paid on a stipend rather than an hourly wage, but the terms of employment are determined by the library’s governing body. Interns provide valuable assistance with library service activities and local library programming. Library staff help introduce interns to the joys of library service careers. Partnership projects involving collaboration between a public library and another type of library will be given special consideration.
Reflection from one intern:
I learned various things from working as a librarian. I learned that the job entails numerous activities. I didn’t previously realize how much work and preparation goes into being a librarian. Also, I learned more about how libraries operate. A lot must take place in order for libraries to be successful. It was fun to learn about different books, computers, and the OPAC system used in most libraries. Overall, throughout this internship experience, I learned that the job of a librarian is exciting, interesting, and ever-changing.
Web conferencing: NLC staff are available by phone and through e-mail to discuss general issues relating to the internship grant program. We also invite you to participate in a webinar to learn more about the program from previous grant recipients, ask questions, and listen to the questions and comments of other participants. NLC’s NCompass Live will air Internships: Cultivating Nebraska’s Future Librarians on Wednesday, January 9, at 10 a.m. Central time. In this session, participating libraries will share their experiences with the internship program, including successes and lessons learned. This session will also introduce the upcoming 2013 grant opportunity for internships.
To apply: Applications are now being accepted. The deadline for applications is Feb. 15, 2013. More information is available on the Now Hiring @ your library® website, at http://nlc1.nlc.state.ne.us/nowhiring/Internships.asp.
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As Nebraska’s 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.”
The Nebraska Library Association is the cornerstone of the Nebraska library community. The Association advocates for its members, enriches their professional lives, advances the lifelong learning of all Nebraskans, and promotes all library interests in Nebraska. For more information, visit http://nebraskalibraries.org.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit http://www.imls.gov.
IMLS National Leadership Grants – Applications due 2/1/2013
National Leadership Grants support projects that address challenges faced by the museum, library, and/or archive fields and that have the potential to advance practice in those fields. Successful proposals will seek innovative responses to the challenge(s) identified in the proposals, and will have national impact. For FY2013, IMLS continues to pursue its commitment to early learning by seeking proposals addressing learners from ages 0-8 and their parents and caregivers. Library applicants are encouraged to partner with community organizations to address at least one of the challenges identified by the Campaign for Grade Level Reading including school readiness, summer reading loss, and chronic school absence. Click here to learn more about IMLS’s role in this initiative. Projects addressing the goals of the Campaign for Grade Level Reading should check the appropriate box on the Program Information Sheet component of the application.
The National Leadership Grant program accepts applications under four main categories:
- Advancing Digital Resources—Support the creation, use, presentation, and preservation of significant digital resources as well as the development of tools to enhance access, use, and management of digital assets.
- Research—Research—Support research that investigates key questions that are important to museum, library, and archival practice.
- Demonstration—Demonstration—Support projects that produce a replicable model or practice that is usable, adaptable, or scalable by other institutions for improving services and performance.
- Library Museum Collaboration Grants— Support collaborative projects (between museums and/or libraries and other community organizations) that address the educational, economic, cultural, or social needs of a community. In 2012, a funding priority will be projects that promote early learning.
Applicants may choose to submit a Project Grant, Planning Grant, or National Forum Grant proposal in any of the above categories. Project Grants support fully developed projects for which needs assessments, partnership development, feasibility analyses, prototyping, and other planning activities have been completed. Planning Grants allow project teams to perform preliminary planning activities that could lead to a subsequent full project, such as needs and feasibility analyses, solidifying partnerships, developing project work plans, or developing prototypes or proofs of concept. Applications for Planning Grants must include at least one formal partner in addition to the lead applicant. National Forum Grants provide the opportunity to convene qualified groups of experts and key stakeholders to consider issues or challenges that are important to libraries, museums, and/or archives across the nation. Grant-supported meetings are expected to produce widely disseminated reports with expert recommendations for action or research that address a key challenge identified in the proposal. The expert recommendations resulting from these meetings are intended to guide future proposals to the National Leadership Grant program.
Eligibility: Libraries that fulfill the general criteria for libraries may apply. See program guidelines for special conditions of eligibility for this program. Museums that fulfill the general criteria for museums may apply. Public or private nonprofit agencies, organizations, or associations that engage in activities designed to advance museums and the museum profession may also apply. In addition, institutions of higher education, including public and non-profit universities, are eligible.
More information is available at http://www.imls.gov/applicants/detail.aspx?GrantId=14.
Sparks! Ignition Grants for Libraries and Museums – Application due 2/1/2013
Deadline: Feb. 1, 2013
Amount: $10,000 – $25,000
Awarding institution: Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Sparks! Ignition Grants for Libraries and Museums are a special funding opportunity within the IMLS National Leadership Grants program. These small grants encourage libraries, museums, and archives to test and evaluate specific innovations in the ways they operate and the services they provide. Sparks Grants support the deployment, testing, and evaluation of promising and groundbreaking new tools, products, services, or organizational practices. You may propose activities or approaches that involve risk, as long as the risk is balanced by significant potential for improvement in the ways libraries and museums serve their communities.
Successful proposals will address problems, challenges, or needs of broad relevance to libraries, museums, and/or archives. A proposed project should test a specific, innovative response to the identified problem and present a plan to make the findings widely and openly accessible.
To maximize the public benefit from federal investments in these grants, the Sparks Grants will fund only projects with the following characteristics:
Broad Potential Impact—You should identify a specific problem or need that is relevant to many libraries, archives, and/or museums, and propose a testable and measurable solution. Proposals must demonstrate a thorough understanding of current issues and practices in the project’s focus area and discuss its potential impact within libraries, archives, and/or museums. Proposed innovations should be widely adoptable or adaptable.
Significant Innovation—The proposed solution to the identified problem must offer strong potential for non-incremental, significant advancement in the operation of libraries, archives, and/or museums. You must explain how the proposed activity differs from current practices or takes advantage of an unexplored opportunity, and the potential benefit to be gained by this innovation.
Eligibility: Libraries that fulfill the general criteria for libraries may apply. Museums that fulfill the general criteria for museums may apply. Public or private nonprofit agencies, organizations, or associations that engage in activities designed to advance museums and the museum profession may also apply. In addition, institutions of higher education, including public and nonprofit universities, are eligible.
For more information: http://www.imls.gov/applicants/detail.aspx?GrantId=19
NEH Digital Humanities Implementation Grants – applications due Jan. 23, 2013
National Endowment for the Humanities Digital Humanities Implementation Grants provide support for museums, libraries, historic places, and other organizations that produce public programs in the humanities.
This program is designed to fund the implementation of innovative digital-humanities projects that have successfully completed a start-up phase and demonstrated their value to the field. Such projects might enhance our understanding of central problems in the humanities, raise new questions in the humanities, or develop new digital applications and approaches for use in the humanities. The program can support innovative digital-humanities projects that address multiple audiences, including scholars, teachers, librarians, and the public. Applications from recipients of NEH’s Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants are welcome.
Unlike NEH’s start-up grant program, which emphasizes basic research, prototyping, experimentation, and potential impact, the Digital Humanities Implementation Grants program seeks to identify projects that have successfully completed their start-up phase and are well positioned to have a major impact.
Proposals are welcome for digital initiatives in any area of the humanities. Digital Humanities Implementation Grants may involve
- implementation of computationally-based methods or techniques for humanities research;
- implementation of new digital tools for use in humanities research, public programming, or educational settings;
- efforts to ensure the completion and long-term sustainability of existing digital resources (typically in conjunction with a library or archive);
- studies that examine the philosophical or practical implications of the use of emerging technologies in specific fields or disciplines of the humanities, or in interdisciplinary collaborations involving several fields or disciplines; or
- implementation of new digital modes of scholarly communication that facilitate peer review, collaboration, or the dissemination of humanities scholarship for various audiences.
Successful projects must make digital innovations and be significant to the humanities.
Closing date for applications: January 23, 2013
For more information, visit http://www.neh.gov/grants/odh/digital-humanities-implementation-grants.
NEH America’s Historical and Cultural Organizations – applications due Jan. 9, 2013
National Endowment for the Humanities America’s Historical and Cultural Organizations grants provide support for museums, libraries, historic places, and other organizations that produce public programs in the humanities.
Grants support the following formats:
- exhibitions at museums, libraries, and other venues;
- interpretations of historic places, sites, or regions;
- book/film discussion programs; living history presentations; other face-to-face programs at libraries, community centers, and other public venues; and
- interpretive websites.
NEH offers two categories of grants for America’s Historical and Cultural Organizations:
- Implementation grants support final scholarly research and consultation, design development, production, and installation of a project for presentation to the public.
- Planning grants support the early stages of project development, including consultation with scholars, refinement of humanities themes, preliminary design, and audience evaluation.
Closing date for applications: January 9, 2013
For more information, visit http://www.neh.gov/grants/ahco.
