Grants

Public Library Innovation Grant from International City and County Management Association (ICMA)

Local governments can now apply for an International City and County Management Association (ICMA) Public Library Innovation Grant. With the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, ICMA will provide $500,000 in grants to cities, towns, and counties that are committed to using their public library as a vital tool in addressing community priorities and issues in a unique, nontraditional manner. Individual grants will range from $20,000 to $60,000 and be 18 months in length.

All Innovation Grants will be anchored by a partnership between the office of the chief administrative officer (city, county, and town manager) and the public library. A series of leadership workshops and project coaching will support grantees in solidifying the manager/librarian partnership, ensuring the short-term success of the project, and developing the capacity to support the long-term use of libraries to meet community goals.


Details and application at

http://www.icma.org/main/bc.asp?bcid=1080

Requests for Proposals--Philanthropy News Digest

A list of funding opportunities in "Arts and Culture" are available from Philanthropy News Digest, a service of the Foundation Center.  Visit http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_arts.jhtml for a current list, as of December 1, 2008.  Many may not be applicable to libraries, but some are!

Travel Grants to ALA 2009 Annual Conference

From the ALA Marginalia Blog:

Other bloggers are discussing the cost of attending an ALA Annual Conference. I’m going to help you do something about it!

Last year I prepared a list of all the travel awards from ALA and its divisions and round tables. This year, I’m happy to say that there is near one-click access to the entire list on the new website. Start at the home page, www.ala.org, click on “Awards & Grants” in the left navigation, then on “Publications, Research & Travel” next to the picture of the open wallet in the middle of the page. The listing you’ll find has all the travel awards in one place.

The time to get your application together is now, as for most of the awards the deadline is the first business day in December. Thousands of dollars in travel awards are available to ALA members and interested professionals through the generosity of vendors and other sponsors. Check out the requirements for these grants. Apply for yourself, or nominate a member of your staff or a colleague.

Allstate: Grants for National and Local Programs

The Allstate Foundation supports national and local programs in three focus areas. Safe and Vital Communities programs address catastrophe response, youth anti-violence, neighborhood revitalization, or teen safe driving. Economic Empowerment programs address financial and economic literacy, insurance education, or empowerment for victims of domestic violence. Tolerance, Inclusion, and Diversity programs address teaching tolerance to youth, ending hate crimes, or alleviating discrimination. Visit the Web site for more information.

Apply by November 14, 2008 for a Great Stories Club grant!

Connect with hard-to-reach, underserved teens by conducting a Great Stories CLUB (Connecting Libraries, Underserved teens, and Books) reading and discussion program in your library. Online applications will be accepted through November 14, 2008 (extended deadline) at www.ala.org/greatstories.

The Great Stories Club reaches underserved, troubled teen populations through books that are relevant to their lives. Libraries located within or working in partnership with facilities serving troubled teens (including juvenile justice facilities, alternative high schools, drug rehabilitation centers and nonprofits serving teen parents) are eligible to apply. 

Following the application process, 230 libraries will receive 11 sets of three theme-related books to provide to members of the book club to keep, along with online resources to plan and implement the program. Additionally, 25 libraries will receive cash grants of up to $200 to assist with program-related expenses.

For tips on preparing an application, a list of the titles included, guidelines and the online application, visit www.ala.org/greatstories.  With questions, please contact the ALA Public Programs Office at publicprograms@ala.org.

Apply now for 2009 Scholastic Library Publishing National Library Week Grant

Libraries of all types are invited to apply for the $3,000 Scholastic Library Publishing National Library Week Grant, which will be awarded to the library with the best public awareness campaign incorporating the 2009 National Library Week theme,  “Worlds connect @ your library®.”

All proposals must use the theme, which uses The Campaign for America's Libraries’ “@ your library” brand, on any and all promotional and publicity material supporting National Library Week activities.  Guidelines for using the brand are available on the campaign Web site at www.ala.org/@yourlibrary under the “download logos” section.

This year’s application deadline is Oct. 17, 2009.  National Library Week is April 12-18, 2009.

A grant application form and guidelines are available on The Campaign for America’s Libraries Web site at www.ala.org/@yourlibrary/nlwgrant.  Information also is available from the ALA Public Information Office. Telephone: (800) 545-2433, ext. 2148. E-mail: mmcfarlane@ala.org.

The winner will be notified and announced following the 2009 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Denver, Colo. 

LSTA Grants available

Guidelines and timeline for 2009 LSTA grants are available at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/pdf/guide09.pdf . There are several categories available in which public libraries can apply on their own.  Please consider supplementing your budget with an LSTA grant.  Applications are due September 12, 2008.  Contact SCLS staff with questions or for assistance.  Contact Terrie Howe, DLTCL, teresa.howe@dpi.wi.gov about the LSTA program. 

Grantseekers' Checklist

The Grantseeker's Checklist is available at http://www.grantsandfunding.net/grantseekersChecklist.pdf

Program Grants for "Let's Talk About It"

The Fetzer Institute's Campaign for Love and Forgiveness is providing funds for "Let's Talk About It," the ALA Public Programs Office's national reading and discussion program.  Thirty public libraries will be selected to receive $2,500 in program grants for "Let's Talk About It: Love and Forgiveness."  An application, full guidelines, and selected book information will be available at the  http://www.ala.org/publicprograms page. 

Institute of Museum and Library Services: Connecting to Collections Bookshelf

This program seeks to provide small and medium-sized libraries and museums with essential resources needed to improve the condition of their collections. Instead of cash grants, the program offers sets of core texts to expand collections. For more information, go to American Association for State and Local History or Institute of Museum and Library Services.