Volume 5, November 3, 2009 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Special Grant Opportunities Issue

Topics include:

1) AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE GRANT OPPORTUNITY

2) SCHOOL LIBRARIES – BOOKS ACROSS AMERICA AWARDS

3) SUSTAINING CULTURAL HERITAGE COLLECTIONS

4) LAURA BUSH 21ST CENTURY LIBRARIAN PROGRAM

5) SUPPORT FOR K-12 LIBRARIES FROM LAURA BUSH FOUNDATION

6) WE THE PEOPLE BOOKSHELF OPPORTUNITY

7) BANK OF THE WEST CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS PROGRAM

8) APPLY NOW TO BECOME A PRESERVE AMERICA STEWARD

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1) AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE GRANT OPPORTUNITY

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is pleased to announce the availability of guidelines and application forms for the 2010 Museum Grants for African American History and Culture. The grant program supports projects that enhance institutional capacity and sustainability in the nation’s African American museums through professional training, technical assistance, internships, outside expertise, and other important tools. Application deadline: January 15, 2010

IMLS staff will be hosting two audio conference calls to provide an opportunity for prospective applicants to learn more about the Museum Grants for African American History and Culture program. The calls will be held on the following dates and times:

· Friday, November 20 at 2:00 p.m. ET (11:00 PST)

· Wednesday, December 9 at 2:00 p.m. ET (11:00 PST)

Please check the African American History and Culture page at www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/AfricanAmerican.shtm closer to the date of the call for specific dial-in instructions. Application guidelines and instructions are available at the same location. Please direct any questions about the program to Christopher Reich, Senior Program Officer, 202-653-4685, [email protected], or Twinet Kimbrough, Program Specialist, 202-653-4703, [email protected].

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2) SCHOOL LIBRARIES – BOOKS ACROSS AMERICA AWARDS

The NEA Foundation is accepting applications for the Books Across America Library Books Awards. Presented in collaboration with the National Educational Association, Books Across America will make approximately fifty awards of $1,000 to public schools serving economically disadvantaged students to purchase books for school libraries.

Applicants must be practicing preK-12 school librarians, teachers, or education support professionals. To be eligible, seventy percent of students in applicant schools must be eligible for the free or reduced-price lunch program. Applications are due November 20, 2008. For additional information, and to apply, use this shortcut link: www.secstate.wa.gov/quicklinks/across.

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3) SUSTAINING CULTURAL HERITAGE COLLECTIONS

Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections helps 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.

Two kinds of awards are offered: 1) Grants for Planning and Evaluation of up to $40,000 will support planning and evaluation projects; and 2) Grants for Implementation of up to $400,000 are available to help an institution implement a preventive conservation project. Implementation projects should be based on planning that has been specific to the needs of the institution and its collections within the context of its local environment.

Any U.S. nonprofit organization is eligible, as are state and local governmental agencies and tribal governments. Applications must be received by Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time), Tuesday, December 8, 2009. Supplementary materials must also arrive at NEH by December 8, 2009, to be considered as part of the application. More information is available at www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/SCHC.html.

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4) LAURA BUSH 21ST CENTURY LIBRARIAN PROGRAM

This program supports projects to develop faculty and library leaders, to recruit and educate the next generation of librarians, to conduct research on the library profession, and to support early career research on any area of library and information science by tenure-track, untenured faculty in graduate schools of library and information science. It also supports projects to attract high school and college students to consider careers in libraries, to build institutional capacity in graduate schools of library and information science, and to assist in the professional development of librarians and library staff.

Grant amounts from $50,000–$1,000,000 are available over a three – four year period. A fifty percent of total project costs match is required. Funds requested for student support and for research projects are not subject to matching requirements.

IMLS will be holding a conference call to answer questions about applications, procedures, etc. on Tuesday, November 10, at 2pm (ET), 1 hour call. Those wishing to join the conference call should phone 800/603-9527 and when prompted, provide the conference id, # 39706057.

The application d deadline is December 15, 2009. For more information, use these shortcut links: IMLS: www.secstate.wa.gov/quicklinks/21st or Grants.gov: www.secstate.wa.gov/quicklinks/LauraBush.

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5) SUPPORT FOR K-12 LIBRARIES FROM LAURA BUSH FOUNDATION

The goal of the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries is to provide print books to the K-12 school libraries and students that most need them. Grants of up to $6,000 are offered to update, extend, and diversify the book collections of school libraries throughout the United States. Preference is given to elementary, middle, or high schools in which 90% or more of the school population receives free or reduced lunch. Funds are available only for library books and magazine/serial copies and subscriptions; requests for staffing, shelving, furniture, equipment, software, videos, classroom book sets, or exams are not considered. All grants are made to individual schools rather than to school districts, foundations, or other entities.

The application deadline is December 31, 2009. Online application information is available on the Foundation’s website: www.laurabushfoundation.org/web2/.

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6) WE THE PEOPLE BOOKSHELF OPPORTUNITY

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the American Library Association have announced the 2009-2010 We the People Bookshelf opportunity. A total of 4,000 public and school (K-12) libraries will be selected to receive the “A More Perfect Union” Bookshelf. Awards will be announced in April 2010. This year’s theme reflects the observance of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and seeks to promote reflection among young people on the idea of the United States as a “union.”

The online application, collection description, guidelines, and eligibility are available at publicprograms.ala.org/bookshelf/.

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7) BANK OF THE WEST CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS PROGRAM

The Bank of the West Charitable Contributions Program supports nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life in the communities served by the bank in states including Oregon and Washington. Grants are provided in the following categories: Education and Job Training, Community and Economic Development, Health and Human Care, and Civic and Community. Preference is given to projects that focus on low- and moderate-income individuals and communities.

Requests are reviewed throughout the year. Application guidelines and forms are available on the bank’s website via this shortcut link: www.secstate.wa.gov/quicklinks/BankOfTheWest. Branches are located in Ellensburg, Yakima, Sunnyside, Richland, Kennewick, and Pasco.

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8) APPLY NOW TO BECOME A PRESERVE AMERICA STEWARD

Organizations with volunteer programs that focus on preserving our heritage are encouraged to apply for designation as Preserve America Stewards. Preserve America Stewards, part of the federal Preserve America initiative, is conducted in cooperation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and other federal agencies.

Preserve America Stewards receive a designation letter and certificate of recognition signed by First Lady Michelle Obama. Other benefits include authorization to use the Preserve America logo in public outreach and promotional activities, listing in a Web-based Preserve America Stewards directory, and publicity in the Preserve America e-newsletter.

An application form and further information are available at www.preserveamerica.gov/stewards.html. The next quarterly deadline for submitting applications to the Preserve America Stewards program is December 1, 2009.