Check out what ALA has to say about the stimulus package and it’s impact for libraries:
Link to ALA’s information
What can our libraries do?
The Pennsylvania Humanities Council invites public libraries to host a free program featuring an expert in the humanities through the 2008-9 Commonwealth Speakers Program. The Commonwealth Speakers program has contracted artist, educators, and scholars from around the state to provide quality presentations on a variety of topics including music, folk and traditional arts, and American history. Many presentations encourage audience participation or target family audiences and cater to popular interest.
Interested libraries simply need to fill out the brief application and submit it eight weeks before the proposed event date. To schedule spring events in April and May, submit an application by mid-March.
The application materials and the Commonwealth Speakers catalog can be accessed on-line at:
www.pahumanities.org. The coordinator of the Commonwealth Speakers Program, Georgia Guthrie, can send hard copies of the catalog and answer any questions. She can be reached at commonwealthspeakers@ pahumanities.org.
In addition to the Commonwealth speakers program, PHC offers grants which support humanities programs centered in the arts, history, literature and other humanities fields. PHC’s packaged book discussion program, Read About It! also serves as a resource for residents of Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Humanities Council is inviting libraries to host a free humanities program featuring an expert in the humanities through the 2008-9 Commonwealth Speakers program. For more than twenty years, the Commonwealth Speakers program has contracted artists, educators, and scholars from around the state to provide quality presentations on a variety of topics including mucic, folk and traditional arts, and American history. Many presentations encourage audience participation or target family audiences and cater to popular interest.
To apply, simply fill out an application and forward it to the PHC. Applications must be received at least 8 weeks before the proposed event date. To schedule spring events in April and May, submit an application by mid-March. The application materials and the Commonwealth Speakers catalog can be accessed on-line at:www.pahumanities.org.
If you would like a hard copy of the catalog or have any questions, please contact Georgia Guthrie at (800)462-0442, or (215)925-1005 x119. She can be reached also at: commonwealthspeakers@pahumanities.org.
The Mockingbird Foundation is a nonprofit organization of Phish fans, founded to raise money for charity. The Foundation offers competitive grants of up to $5,000 to schools and nonprofit organizations that focus on music education for children in the United States, with an emphasis on geographic diversity throughout the country. The Foundation is particularly interested in projects that encourage creative expression in all musical forms, as well as projects that foster self-esteem. The target age is children eighteen years or younger, but the Foundation will also consider projects that benefit college students, teachers/instructors, or adult students, especially from disenfranchised groups. Visit the webisite listed below to submit an online letter of inquiry. The 2009 deadlines are February 1 and August 1.guidelines.html
The Open Meadows Foundation supports projects nationwide that are led by and benefit women and girls, particularly those from vulnerable communities. Specifically, the Foundation supports projects that are designed and implemented by women and girls; reflect the diversity of the community served by the project; promote building community power; and encourage racial, social, economic, and environmental justice. Priority is given to organizations that have limited financial access or have encountered obstacles in their search for funding. The Foundation provides grants of up to $2,000 to cover start-up expenses or to support ongoing projects. Funding guidelines and application instructions are available on the Foundation’s website:www.openmeadows.org. The first application deadline for 2009 is February 15.
The Motorola Foundation focuses its funding on math and science teacher-training programs as well as nonprofit organizations that excite young people about these subjects. Through the 2009 Innovation Generation Grant Program, the Foundation will provide $5 million to organizations that engage U.S. preK-12 students, especially girls and underrepresented minorities, and teachers in innovation, science, technology, engineering, and math programming. Grant applicants may request up to $75,000. Any U.S. nonprofit organization, school, or school district may apply; however, priority will be given to programs that operate in communities where Motorola facilities are located in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Visit the Motorola website below for funding guidelines and online application information. Deadline is February 15, 2009.
Nonprofit Innovation Awards recognize and honor local 501(c)(3) organizations and executives that demonstrate innovation in their daily operations. This program will recognize organizations and executives at all levels. An independent panel of judges evaluates the nominations and determines the finalists.
Finalists will be recognized at an awards breakfast on April 2, 2009. Award recipients in each of the organization categories will receive a check for $2,000. The award recipient in the Nonprofit Leadership Excellence category will receive a check for $1,000 made payable to his/her organization.
Nominations are accepted in five categories:
• Brand Identity/Unique Marketing Campaign
• Collaboration
• Management Operations
• Programs
• Nonprofit Leadership Excellence
To be eligible, the organization or executive must meet all of the following requirements:
• Recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization
• Located in one of the following counties:
Adams
Cumberland
Dauphin
Lancaster
Lebanon
Perry
York
• Innovation was implemented no earlier than January 1, 2006
Nomimation forms may be downloaded at:
events.asp?nID=48&show=details
Organizations and executives must submit a nomination packet postmarked by Wednesday, December 31, 2008, to be considered for the awards.
Presenting Sponsor: Highmark Blue Shield
Major Sponsors: Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz, Schaedler Yesco Distribution, and Temple University Harrisburg
Supporting Sponsor: Commerce Bank/Harrisburg
In cooperation with: The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, Lancaster County Community Foundation, and York County Community Foundation
If you have any questions regarding the Nonprofit Innovation Awards, contact Colleen Jones at colleenj@journalpub.com.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), announces the fifth deadline for The Big Read. The purpose of The Big Read is to revitalize the role of literature in American popular culture. Grants ranging from $5,000 – $20,000 are available to encourage local communities to inspire reading by developing and carrying out programming revolving around a single work of literature. Programming must be conducted between September 2009 and June 2010. This will be the only application deadline in 2009.
Big Read grants require the participation of a library as a lead applicant or a partner. Organizations selected to participate in The Big Read will receive:
*a grant
*financial support to attend a national orientation meeting
*educational and promotional materials for broad distribution
*an organizer’s guide for developing and managing Big Read activities
*guidance on working with local media
*inclusion of the organization and its activities on the Big Read Web site
*the prestige of participating in a highly visible national initiative
The deadline for proposals is February 3, 2009. Request for proposals can be downloaded at:
neabigread.org
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is offering a third and final round of competition to distribute 1,000 copies of the Connecting to Collections Bookshelf. The IMLS Bookshelf is a core set of texts that are essential for the care of collections. It is valued at approximately $800, focuses on collections typically found in art or history museums and in libraries’ special collections.
The IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. The American Association for State and Local History(AASLH), the cooperating partner of the Connecting to Collections Bookshelf is a non-profit organization that preserves and interprets state and local history in order to make the past more meaningful to all Americans.
Libraries are urged to apply for Free IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf. Recipients will also receive two guides: The Bookshelf User’s Guide and the Guide to Online Resources. Priority for the IMLS Bookshelf will be given to smaller institutions, but large museums and libraries with special collections are also eligible to apply. Online applications can be submitted to the AASLH between January 5, 2009 and March 9, 2009 at: Bookshelf. For more information, email Terry Jackson at jackson@aaslh.org.
There is important information about this grant. Andrea Miller, chair of the Library Science Department of Clarion University has said that if Clarion University is selected as the school of choice for students, it is necessary to start the application process immediately. If the student is selected into the graduate program and to receive a grant, this process will be in place as classes start in January. Applying and being accepted by Clarion does not automatically qualify students for this grant.
Please go to the Clarion University website link and apply online under “graduate studies.” Request for the Laura Bush Program must be indicated on the application. A special cohort for these students is being designed that involves research in every course. www.clarion.edu
The ALSC/BWI Reading Program Grant is designed to encourage reading programs for children in a public library by providing financial assistance of $3,000, while recognizing ALSC members for outstanding program development.
The application is easy to complete and is due December 1, 2008. The program must be:
*Theme-based summer reading program in a public library
*Open to all children from birth through 14 years
The applicant must work directly with children and be a personal member of ALSC. The committee encourages proposals with innovative ways to encourage involvement of children with physical or mental disabilities.
The application can be found on ALSC website:
The Office of Commonwealth Libraries is pleased to announce the award of $537,600, A Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Grant, provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
The grant will provide scholarships for the MLS coursework for 25 Pennsylvania public librarians working primarily in rural, but also in lower income urban communities. The 25 new MLS educated librarians will be better equipped to improve the level of service provided by PA public libraries in their communities.
As part of the grant requirement, in addition to taking classes, students will also complete a research project. Clarion University is partnering with the Office of Commonwealth Libraries to oversee the research. Required research projects will contribute to the library profession and will give Pennsylvania the opportunity to use the research in the best way possible to improve libraries. Research will be published and put on the Clarion University website.
Acceptance in a university’s program is a requirement. Students will have their choice of which ALA-accredited college they want to attend. However. the maximum amount each student can be awarded is $19,992 for the entire program. If the student chooses to attend a university other than Clarion, the student must make arrangements with the school to ensure the research component of the project is included. Classes will begin with the winter semester.
More information, an application, guidelines and criteria for selection will be posted here at a later date.
The American Library Association Publishing Committee provides a grant of up to $5000 for the preparation of print or electronic reading lists, indexes, or other guides to library resources that promote reading or the use of library resources at any type of library.
Funded projects have ranged from popular, general-reader proposals such as “ReadMOre”, a reading list for Missouri’s state-wide reading program, to more specialized, scholarly proposals such as “Librarianship and Information Science in the Islamic World, 1966-1999:An Annotated Bibliography.”
Applications must be received by November 3, 2008. Recipients will be notified by the end of February 2009.
For more information and guidelines, visit:
carnegiewhitney.cfm
Or contact:
Mary Jo Bolduc, Grant Administrator
American Library Association
50 E. Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611
Fax: 312-280-5275
mbolduc@ala.org
The Women’s National Book Association sponsors the WNBA Eastman Grant, which is available for librarians who are interested in learning about the relationship between the library and publishing professions.
The WNBA offers a grant of up to $750 for a librarian to take a course or participate in an institute devoted to aspects of publishing as a profession.
The grant honors Ann Heidbreder Eastman, who was an active and prominent member of both the WNBA and the American Library Association. The grant represents Ann’s commitment to education about publishing as well as her support for communication between librarians and publishers.
Librarians holding a master’s degree in library science or its equivalent and having at least two years of post-master’s work experience in a library may apply. The primary criterion will be the likelihood of career benefit to the person taking the course.
Applications must be received by November 1, 2008
For more information and guidelines visit:
wnbaannheidbreder.cfm
Or contact:
Mary Jo Bolduc, Grant Administrator
American Library Association
50 E. Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611
Fax: 312-280-5275
mbolduc@ala.org
The Office of Commonwealth Libraries is pleased to announce the opportunity for municipalities to apply for grants for public library facilities. Applications for these 2009 grants will be accepted in the anticipation of revenues from a portion of the Realty Transfer Tax that becomes available to the Keystone Fund.
Only municipalities may apply for Keystone Fund grants. The Office of Commonwealth Libraries requires that these applications be prepared jointly with the public library or library system and signed by the governing bodies of both the municipality and the public library or library system. Libraries must be participants in the state aid to public libraries funding program. Grant funds are available to pay up to 50 percent of projects costs for public library rehabilitation, renovation and construction. Every grant application must show at least a dollar for dollar match.
NEW: For the 2009 round, Commonwealth Libraries will also require that a representative of the municipality or the library attend a free Keystone workshop or an online webinar. Three Keystone workshops will be held:
Pittsburgh-October 3, 2008
Valley Forge – October 8, 2008
Harrisburg – October 10, 2008
Registration information will be available at keystone. Information on a January webinar will also be posted on that site in December.
NEW: A Letter of Intent, due by 5:00 pm on January 30, 2009, will be required for the 2009 round. The final application package must be received at the Office of Commonwealth Libraries by 5:00 pm on June 30, 2009. Letter of Intent instructions will be available at the October workshops. The full Keystone application will be available in December also on the website.
Those without Internet access may request an application by contacting:
Diana L. Megdad
Keystone Library of Education
Office of Commonwealth Libraries
333 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17126-1745
Fax: 717-787-2117
Email: dmegdad@state.pa.us
Commonwealth Libraries will be awarding up to six grants next spring. Successful applicants would attend training in fall of 2009 and complete the requirements of the grant by June of 2010. If you want your library to be the community hub for young childern and their families please consider applying. The only qualification is that a library must have a dedicated youth services staff member who works at least 30 per week. If you have applied before and did not receive the grant please consider applying again. We had 15 applications last year and were only able to fund six. Information on the program is included in the application, as well as a link to Family Place Libraries. Applications and the Internet Safety Document are due on or before Friday, October 10, 2008.
Attached is a copy of the 2009 Application to become a Family Place Library.
Family Place Application
Internet Safety Document
The Intercultural Harmony Program, an initiative of the Laura Jane Musser Fund, promotes mutual understanding and cooperation between groups and citizens of different cultural backgrounds within defined geographical areas through collaborative, crosscultural projects. Support is provided to nonprofit organizations throughout the United States that initiate programs that increase the level of interaction between the targeted groups. Funded projects can be carried out in a number of areas, including the arts, community service, and youth activities. Planning or implementation grants averaging from $7,500 to $20,000 are provided for new projects within their first three years of operation. Detailed application guidelines are available on the Foundation’s website.
http://www.musserfund.org/harmony.php
Application deadline is October 1, 2008
The Mockingbird Foundation, Inc. is accepting applications for its Disenfranchised Children’s Grants program. The purpose of this program is to support organizations that benefit children, particularly disenfranchised children, including those with low skill levels, income, or education; with disabilities or terminal illnesses; and in foster homes, shelters, hospitals, prisons, or other remote or isolated situations.
Grants range in size from $50 to $5,000 and are made on a one-time basis. Grants are typically made only to nonprofit organizations with tax-exempt status under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Service code, or who have a sponsoring agency with this status.
Public schools are eligible.
Deadline: Rolling (Letter of Inquiry).
More information on this worthy program can be found at:
http://www.mockingbirdfoundation.org/funding/guidelines.html
The Institute of Museum and Libray Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 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.
Picturing America, presented by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), provides high-quality reproductions of great American art to public libraries and K-12 schools to enhance the study of history, social studies, language arts, literature and civics. Picturing America allows everyone, regardless of their location or income to explore American history through the lens of our nations’s great works of art. The Endowment wants every school and public library in the United States to receive Picturing America.
Libraries with collections that circulate to the general public and those that offer reading programs to the public are encouraged to apply. Public libraries are eligible to receive Picturing America materials free of charge. Included in the package are:
*Forty large, high-quality color reproductions of the selected masterpieces (24″x36″)
*A comprehensive teacher’s resource book providing a wide range of ideas and background information to support educators using the works of art in core subject areas.
*Lesson plans and additional resources available through the Picturing America Web site Picturing America.neh.gov
Application information can be found in the ‘Apply Now’ section of the Picturing America Web site, PicturingAmerica.neh.gov. Applications are currently being accepted now through October 31, 2008, with delivery scheduled for spring 2009. Libraries and schools have a second opportunity to apply for a wonderful, free teaching tool and bring great American art to their patrons and students. Previous recipients of the Picturing America collection are not eligible for a second award.
Art has so much to teach about America’s past, present and future. To learn more about the Institute of Museum and Library Services, visit www.imls.gov. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at www.neh.gov.
Lois Lenski, the 1946 Newbery medalist for Strawberry Girl, had a life-long concern that all children have access to good books. In pursuit of this goal, she established a foundation to provide grants to public and school libraries serving disadvantaged populations.
The Lois Lenski Covey Foundation annually awards grants to rural and urban, public and school libraries serving at-risk children. The Foundation gives priority to applications from libraries with real need and limited book budgets. Funds are earmarked for purchasing books for young people rather than administrative or operational use. Previously awarded grants have ranged from 3500 to 32000. Successful applicants have proposed purchases to update their collections generally or to expand their holdings in specific areas.
A user-friendly, on-line application form is available at www.loislenskicovey.org.
To qualify for year 2008 grants, completed application forms must be received no later than September 15, 2008.
Please direct questions to: Michael Covey, michael.covey@loislenskycovey.org
For more information, visit http://www.loislenskicovey.org.
