Illinois State Library

FY2008 LIBRARY SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGY ACT GRANT OFFERINGS

These grant project opportunities are made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Illinois State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.

FY2008 GENERAL GRANT PROCESS

1. The Letter of Intent is the first step in making a formal application for FY08 LSTA grant funds. The Letter of Intent must be submitted online no later than 11:59 p.m. on Monday, April 2, 2007. Instructions are in the application for each offering.
2. The full application must be postmarked no later than May 11, 2007; or hand delivered to the Illinois State Library by 4:30 p.m. on May 11, 2007.
3. Funded grants will begin activities on October 1, 2007 and end on June 30, 2008 with encumbered funds spent by August 15, 2008.
4. Applications must demonstrate outcomes based on patron or community need.
5. Applications must be programmatic in nature to provide services or activities for the end users.
6. For eligible activities and terms appropriate for grant funding, refer to each specific offering.
7. Awards will be announced in September 2007.

REVIEW RUBRIC AND SELECTION CRITERIA

THE EMERGING GRANT WRITER

Program Overview  |  Application

DESIRED OUTCOMES:

The Illinois State Library seeks to fund projects that result in the following outcomes:

• Emerging grant writers participate in submitting grant proposals, gaining skills and confidence in the grant writing process.
• Library collections support community needs and interests.
• Previously unserved or under-served library patrons have increased access to new or improved library services, materials and programs.
• Patrons will report a high satisfaction rate with enhanced library services.
• Statewide resource sharing is enhanced.

The intent of The Emerging Grant Writer offering is to encourage those who have never written a successful LSTA grant, to apply. This grant is designed to alleviate the first time grant writer's apprehension by easing them into the grant process. The Emerging Grant Writer application should focus on a new or enhanced activity, program or library service.

If library materials and supplies are budgeted, they must be essential to the proposed activities. No more than 50% of the total grant funds requested may be used for library materials and supplies. Equipment will not be funded. Only one application per first time grant writer will be accepted with only one application per library, and a maximum of ten per agency.

THE SAFETY GRANT

Program Overview  |  Application

DESIRED OUTCOMES:

The Illinois State Library seeks to fund projects that result in the following outcomes:

• Illinois citizens' access to information on safety issues and disaster preparedness will increase with the library as the hub of information.
• Illinois citizens will turn to the library for information, education and training on issues relating to personal and community safety.

As information needs increase, libraries must be ready and able to provide information and training on issues relating to the safety of their patrons and the community as a whole. With The Safety Grant, the public, school, academic or special library can be an integral piece of the safety and disaster preparedness puzzle. The Safety Grant offering focuses on programs and services. The intent of the offering is for libraries to provide training, educational programs or demonstrations on issues relating to safety.

LSTA grants are program or activity based. No more than 20% of the total grant funds requested may be used for equipment. A match of local funds is not required. Only one application will be accepted per library with a maximum of ten per agency.

DIGITAL IMAGING

Program Overview  |  Application

DESIRED OUTCOME:

The Illinois State Library seeks to fund projects with the following desired outcomes:

• Illinois citizens' access to local history and cultural material in a digital format is increased.
• Illinois citizens' access to significant collections of historic and cultural importance is increased.

Digital Imaging grants allow libraries to create Internet-ready versions of their materials and collections, specifically Illinois-related historical and cultural materials. Digital Imaging grants assist libraries in developing successful digital imaging projects and provide greater access to collections. This grant cycle has an emphasis on World War II and materials related to local history as they relate to the state and nation in a historical and cultural context. Proposals for projects in other subject areas will be considered based on the significance as documented in the grant proposal.

Only one application will be accepted per library with a maximum of ten per agency.

LIBRARIES: INNOVATE, CREATE, COLLABORATE (LINCC)

Program Overview  |  Application

DESIRED OUTCOMES:

The Illinois State Library seeks to fund projects that result in the following outcomes:

• Proposals will reflect a collaborative effort that will have the propensity to positively impact a community's technology, economic, education and social structures.
• End User/Customer awareness and investment will be raised due to the new collaborative model.
• The End User/Customer must express high satisfaction with new library services.

Throughout the years, nationwide recognition has been accorded to Illinois libraries for their innovative and creative partnerships, programs, and services. To continue this tradition, the Libraries: Innovate, Create, Collaborate (LINCC) LSTA grant offering provides the opportunity to create partnerships that will reflect deep understanding of the community with an emphasis on innovative and creative programming and services.

LSTA grants are program or activity based. No more than 30% of the total grant funds requested may be used for equipment. A match of local funds is not required. Only one application will be accepted per agency.

DEMONSTRATION OF PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICES

Program Overview  |  Application

DESIRED OUTCOMES:

The Illinois State Library seeks to fund projects that result in the following outcomes:

• Illinois citizens recognize the library and librarians as vital resources in the community.
• Illinois citizens have access to tax supported library services, programs and materials.

Demonstration of Public Library Services is intended to show the value of public library services to Illinois residents currently residing outside of a taxed library service area. Applicants are encouraged to explore innovative methods of provided services and address the needs of the unserved population within Illinois. The project design should be inviting and educational, showing an understanding of the needs of the unserved population.

Grant funds are intended to demonstrate library services. Applicants should clearly show planning for and consideration of extra library hours, additional staff, special programs or activities and their promotion to educate and provide library services to the target audience.

Only one application will be accepted per agency.

DEVELOPING A STATEWIDE TECHNOLOGY TOOLKIT

Program Overview  |  Application

DESIRED OUTCOMES:

The Illinois State Library seeks to fund projects that result in the following outcomes:

• Every Illinois library will have the ability to meet the needs of their technologically savvy library users.
• Other states will model Illinois as the leader for employing the latest technologies to offer library services.

Regional library systems are encouraged to collaborate and cooperate on a statewide initiative to enhance library services using new technologies such as blogs, RSS, Wikis and instant messaging. Together, the regional library systems will focus on research and development, testing and training that will have statewide impact.

FY2008 will focus on statewide implementation of best practices based on the outcomes of the FY2007 projects. Mentoring, training, and statewide implementation will be replicated and made available statewide.