Opportunity Information: Apply for LB21 FY16
Apply for LB21 FY16
- The Institute of Museum and Library Services in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda) humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.313 Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 31, 2015 and posted on Aug 31, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 15, 2016 The application process for this round of the LB21 program is a two phase process. In the first phase, all applicants must submit a two page preliminary proposal by October 1, 2015, describing the proposal, its relevance to one of the two agency priorities (if applicable), its potential impact, its projected performance goals and outcomes and its estimated budget. Those applicants, whose preliminary proposals are the most promising and best aligned with the IMLS s funding priorities, will be invited to participate in the second phase of the process by submitting a full proposal and complete application by January 15, 2016.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $10,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 22 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- To be eligible for LB21, you must be either a unit of State or local government or a private nonprofit organization that has tax exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code and be located in one of the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau. In addition, you must be one of the following six types of organizations A library or a parent organization, such as a school district, a municipality, a State agency, or an academic institution, that is responsible for the administration of a library. Eligible libraries include the following Public libraries Public elementary and secondary school libraries College and university libraries Research libraries and archives that are not an integral part of an institution of higher education and that make publicly available library services and materials that are suitable for scholarly research and not otherwise available (Research libraries must be under the supervision of at least one permanent professional staff and must be either generally recognized as possessing unique scholarly research materials and services that are made available to the public, or able to demonstrate that such is the case when submitting an application to IMLS.) Private or special libraries that have been deemed eligible to participate in this program by the State in which the library is located An academic or administrative unit, such as a graduate school of library and information science that is part of an institution of higher education through which it would make application (See below for additional conditions of eligibility that might apply to such applicants) A digital library, if it makes library materials publicly available and provides library services, including selection, organization, description, reference, and preservation, under the supervision of at least one permanent professional staff person A library agency that is an official agency of a State or other unit of government and is charged by the law governing it with the extension and development of public library services within its jurisdiction A library consortium that is a local, statewide, regional, interstate, or international cooperative association of library entities that provides for the systematic and effective coordination of the resources of eligible libraries, as defined above, and information centers that work to improve the services delivered to the clientele of these libraries A library association that exists on a permanent basis serves libraries or library professionals on a national, regional, state, or local level and engages in activities designed to advance the well being of libraries and the library profession We recognize the potential for valuable contributions to the overall goals of the LB21 program by entities that do not meet the eligibility requirements above. Although such entities may not serve as the official applicants, they are encouraged to participate in projects. Federally operated libraries and museums may not apply for LB21 grants, but they may participate with applicants. Contact us before submitting a proposal involving a federal agency or federal collection. Non Federal entities may serve as subrecipients or contractors and may receive IMLS grant funds as a result of the project. Consult with us about any eligibility questions before submitting an application.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (LB21) is a discretionary grant program run by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) that focuses on strengthening the library and archives workforce. Its core purpose is to build "human capital" in libraries and archives by funding professional development, graduate education, and continuing education efforts that help staff keep pace with changing learning habits, technology, and public expectations around information access and services. In practical terms, the program is meant to support projects that improve the skills, capacity, and preparedness of current and future library and archive professionals so institutions can better serve the American public.
For FY16, IMLS anticipated two separate LB21 funding opportunities with different deadlines. The opportunity described here (Funding Opportunity Number: LB21 FY16) was posted on August 31, 2015, with a final application deadline of January 15, 2016, and an archive date of February 14, 2016. A key feature of this round is that it uses a two-phase application process. In Phase 1, every applicant had to submit a preliminary proposal limited to two pages by October 1, 2015. That short proposal needed to explain the project idea, show how it connects to IMLS priorities (including any relevant agency priorities), describe the anticipated impact, outline performance goals and outcomes, and provide an estimated budget. IMLS then screened those preliminary proposals and only invited the most promising and best-aligned applicants to move forward to Phase 2. In Phase 2, invited applicants submitted a complete full proposal and application package by January 15, 2016.
The program had an estimated total funding pool of $10,000,000 for this competition, with an expectation of about 22 awards. Individual awards ranged from a floor of $50,000 up to a ceiling of $1,000,000. Cost sharing or matching was required, meaning applicants needed to contribute non-federal resources (cash and/or allowable in-kind support, depending on program rules) as part of the project budget. The CFDA number associated with the program is 45.313, and the activity area is categorized under arts and humanities/cultural affairs.
Eligibility is broad but specific. An applicant had to be either (1) a unit of state or local government or (2) a private nonprofit organization with IRS tax-exempt status, and it had to be located in one of the U.S. states or in certain U.S. territories and freely associated states listed in the notice (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau). Beyond that baseline requirement, the applicant also needed to fall into one of several library-eligible organization types. These included libraries (or their parent organizations) responsible for administering a library, such as public libraries, K-12 school libraries, college and university libraries, and certain research libraries and archives that provide publicly available services and materials suitable for scholarly research. The notice also allowed eligible private or special libraries if the state deemed them eligible for participation. Other eligible applicant types included academic or administrative units such as graduate library and information science programs applying through their higher education institution, digital libraries that make materials publicly available and provide professional library services under permanent professional staff supervision, state library agencies, library consortia that coordinate resources and improve service delivery, and library associations that operate on a permanent basis to advance libraries and the profession.
The notice also makes an important participation distinction: organizations that do not meet the formal eligibility rules cannot be the official applicant, but IMLS encouraged them to participate as partners on projects. Federally operated libraries and museums were not allowed to apply as the lead applicant, though they could participate with eligible applicants, and IMLS advised contacting the agency before proposing work involving a federal agency or federal collection. Non-federal entities could participate as subrecipients or contractors and could receive IMLS grant funds through the project structure.
For applicants seeking more details or needing help accessing the full announcement, IMLS provided program officer contacts, including Mary Alice Ball (mball@imls.gov), Tim Carrigan (tcarrigan@imls.gov), Trevor Owens (tjowens@imls.gov), Sandra Toro (storo@imls.gov), and Emily Reynolds (ereynolds@imls.gov), along with their phone numbers. The notice also listed an IMLS web link for the full program information.
Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (LB21 FY16) FAQs
1) What is the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (LB21)?
The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (LB21) is a discretionary grant program run by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). It focuses on strengthening the library and archives workforce by funding efforts that build "human capital" through professional development, graduate education, and continuing education.
2) What is the main goal of this grant program?
The core purpose is to improve the skills, capacity, and preparedness of current and future library and archive professionals so libraries and archives can better serve the American public amid changing learning habits, technology, and public expectations around information access and services.
3) What fiscal year competition is described here?
This FAQ reflects the FY16 competition described under Funding Opportunity Number: LB21 FY16.
4) Who runs this funding opportunity?
The program is administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
5) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is LB21 FY16.
6) When was this opportunity posted?
The notice was posted on August 31, 2015.
7) What was the final application deadline?
The final application deadline for the full application package (Phase 2, for invited applicants) was January 15, 2016.
8) What is the archive date for this opportunity?
The archive date listed for this opportunity was February 14, 2016.
9) Did this competition use a two-phase application process?
Yes. This round used a two-phase application process: a short preliminary proposal in Phase 1 followed by a full proposal in Phase 2 for invited applicants.
10) What was required in Phase 1?
In Phase 1, every applicant had to submit a preliminary proposal limited to two pages.
11) When was the Phase 1 preliminary proposal due?
The Phase 1 preliminary proposal was due by October 1, 2015.
12) What did the two-page preliminary proposal need to include?
The Phase 1 preliminary proposal needed to explain the project idea, show how it connects to IMLS priorities (including any relevant agency priorities), describe the anticipated impact, outline performance goals and outcomes, and provide an estimated budget.
13) What happened after Phase 1 was submitted?
IMLS screened the preliminary proposals and only invited the most promising and best-aligned applicants to proceed to Phase 2.
14) Could every applicant submit a full proposal?
No. Only applicants invited by IMLS after Phase 1 screening were able to submit a full proposal in Phase 2.
15) What was required in Phase 2?
In Phase 2, invited applicants submitted a complete full proposal and application package.
16) What was the Phase 2 deadline?
The Phase 2 full proposal and application package were due by January 15, 2016.
17) How much total funding was available for this competition?
The competition had an estimated total funding pool of $10,000,000.
18) About how many awards were expected?
IMLS expected to make about 22 awards.
19) What was the minimum award amount?
Individual awards ranged from a minimum (floor) of $50,000.
20) What was the maximum award amount?
Individual awards ranged up to a maximum (ceiling) of $1,000,000.
21) Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching was required, meaning applicants needed to contribute non-federal resources as part of the project budget.
22) What types of match contributions were allowed?
The notice states that matching could include cash and/or allowable in-kind support, depending on program rules.
23) What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number associated with the program is 45.313.
24) What activity area does this opportunity fall under?
The activity area is categorized under arts and humanities/cultural affairs.
25) Who was eligible to apply as the official applicant?
An applicant had to be either (1) a unit of state or local government or (2) a private nonprofit organization with IRS tax-exempt status, and it had to be located in an eligible U.S. state or territory/freely associated state listed in the notice. In addition, the applicant had to fall into one of the library-eligible organization types described in the notice.
26) Which locations were eligible?
Eligible locations included the U.S. states and certain U.S. territories and freely associated states listed in the notice, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.
27) What types of library organizations were eligible?
Eligible organization types included libraries (or their parent organizations) responsible for administering a library, such as public libraries, K-12 school libraries, college and university libraries, and certain research libraries and archives that provide publicly available services and materials suitable for scholarly research.
28) Are private or special libraries eligible?
The notice allowed eligible private or special libraries if the state deemed them eligible for participation.
29) Are graduate library and information science programs eligible?
Yes. Academic or administrative units such as graduate library and information science programs could apply through their higher education institution.
30) Are digital libraries eligible to apply?
Yes, if they make materials publicly available and provide professional library services under permanent professional staff supervision, as described in the notice.
31) Are state library agencies eligible?
Yes. State library agencies were listed as eligible applicant types.
32) Are library consortia eligible?
Yes. Library consortia that coordinate resources and improve service delivery were included among eligible applicant types.
33) Are library associations eligible?
Yes. Library associations that operate on a permanent basis to advance libraries and the profession were included as eligible applicant types.
34) Can an ineligible organization still participate?
Yes. Organizations that do not meet the formal eligibility rules could not be the official applicant, but IMLS encouraged them to participate as partners on projects.
35) Can federally operated libraries or museums apply as the lead applicant?
No. Federally operated libraries and museums were not allowed to apply as the lead applicant for this opportunity.
36) Can federal entities participate in a project at all?
Yes. Federal entities could participate with eligible applicants, and IMLS advised contacting the agency before proposing work involving a federal agency or a federal collection.
37) Can non-federal entities receive IMLS funds through the project?
Yes. The notice stated that non-federal entities could participate as subrecipients or contractors and could receive IMLS grant funds through the project structure.
38) Who should applicants contact with program questions?
The notice listed program officer contacts at IMLS, including Mary Alice Ball (mball@imls.gov), Tim Carrigan (tcarrigan@imls.gov), Trevor Owens (tjowens@imls.gov), Sandra Toro (storo@imls.gov), and Emily Reynolds (ereynolds@imls.gov), along with their phone numbers.
39) Where can applicants find the full program information?
The notice referenced an IMLS web link for the full program information.
40) Were there multiple LB21 opportunities anticipated for FY16?
Yes. For FY16, IMLS anticipated two separate LB21 funding opportunities with different deadlines, and the details here apply to the one labeled LB21 FY16.
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Applicants also applied for:
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| Building U.S. India Connections through Dance Apply for SCAIN 12 GR 001 SCA 062612 Funding Number: SCAIN 12 GR 001 SCA 062612 Agency: U.S. Mission to India Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $75,000 |
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