Opportunity Information: Apply for SPARKS LIBRARIES FY15
Apply for SPARKS LIBRARIES FY15
- 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 "Sparks Ignition Grants for Libraries" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.312 National Leadership Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 1, 2014 and posted on Dec 1, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 2, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $250,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $25,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- An eligible applicant must be either a unit of state or local government or private nonprofit organization that has tax exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code located in one of the fifty states of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the 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 and one of the six types of organizations listed below 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 public libraries, 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, and 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, which is a part of an institution of higher education through which it would make application. 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 librarian. 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
Sparks Ignition Grants for Libraries is a small-grants funding opportunity offered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under its National Leadership Grants for Libraries program. The purpose is to help libraries and archives try out, test, and evaluate specific innovations in how they operate and how they deliver services. Rather than funding large, long-term expansions of existing work, the Sparks track is designed for targeted experiments that can demonstrate whether a new tool, product, service, or organizational practice works and how it might be improved. Projects may involve some risk, but the expectation is that the potential payoff is meaningful, with clear potential to improve how libraries (and in the program language, libraries and museums) serve their communities.
The program is tightly focused on public value and field-wide learning. Competitive proposals start with a clearly defined problem, challenge, or need that affects many libraries and/or archives, not just a single institution. Applicants are expected to propose a solution that can be tested and measured, showing that they understand the current landscape of practice in that area and how their approach moves beyond it. A key feature is dissemination: projects must include a plan to make findings widely and openly accessible so that other organizations can learn from the results, replicate what works, and avoid repeating what does not.
IMLS emphasizes two core characteristics for funding. First is broad potential impact, meaning the project addresses an issue that matters across the field and produces results that other libraries or archives can adopt or adapt. Second is significant innovation, meaning the project should aim for a non-incremental advance rather than a minor upgrade. Applicants must explain what makes the proposed work genuinely different from current practice or how it leverages an underused opportunity, and they must articulate the concrete benefits that could result if the innovation proves successful.
For the FY15 cycle described, the opportunity is a discretionary grant program (CFDA 45.312, National Leadership Grants). IMLS anticipated making about 12 awards with an estimated total program funding level of $250,000. Individual awards ranged from $10,000 to $25,000, and there was no cost sharing or matching requirement. The funding opportunity number was SPARKS LIBRARIES FY15. The notice was posted December 1, 2014, with an application deadline of February 2, 2015, and an archive date of March 4, 2015.
Eligibility is broad but specific to library-related entities. Applicants must be either a unit of state or local government or a private nonprofit organization with IRS tax-exempt status, and they must be located in eligible U.S. jurisdictions (the 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and several freely associated states and territories listed in the announcement). Eligible applicant types include libraries or their parent organizations (such as school districts, municipalities, state agencies, or academic institutions that administer libraries), graduate library and information science units applying through their higher-education institutions, qualifying digital libraries that provide public access and professional library services, state library agencies, library consortia, and library associations that operate on a permanent basis to advance the library profession.
The agency listed points of contact for the opportunity as Tim Carrigan and Sandra Toro, Senior Library Program Officers at IMLS, with phone numbers and email addresses provided in the announcement, and it referenced an additional information link on the IMLS website for full details.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Sparks Ignition Grants for Libraries (IMLS)
What is the Sparks Ignition Grants for Libraries opportunity?
Sparks Ignition Grants for Libraries is a small-grants funding opportunity offered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under its National Leadership Grants for Libraries program. It supports targeted, test-and-learn projects that explore specific innovations in library and archive operations or service delivery.
What is the main purpose of the Sparks track?
The Sparks track is intended to help libraries and archives try out, test, and evaluate specific innovations. The emphasis is on experiments that can demonstrate whether a new tool, product, service, or organizational practice works and how it could be improved.
What kinds of projects does Sparks fund (and what does it avoid funding)?
Sparks is designed for focused experiments rather than large, long-term expansions of existing work. The goal is to test an innovation in a measurable way, not to scale up a well-established program.
Does IMLS expect Sparks projects to involve risk?
Yes. Projects may involve some risk, but IMLS expects a meaningful potential payoff, with clear potential to improve how libraries (and in the program language, libraries and museums) serve their communities.
What makes a proposal competitive for this program?
Competitive proposals begin with a clearly defined problem, challenge, or need that affects many libraries and/or archives (not just one institution). The proposal should describe a solution that can be tested and measured and should reflect an understanding of the current landscape of practice and how the proposed approach moves beyond it.
Is the program focused on local impact or field-wide impact?
The program is tightly focused on public value and field-wide learning. Applicants are expected to address issues that matter across the field and produce results that other libraries or archives can adopt or adapt.
What are the two core characteristics IMLS emphasizes for funding?
IMLS emphasizes (1) broad potential impact and (2) significant innovation. Broad potential impact means the work addresses a field-wide issue and produces transferable results. Significant innovation means aiming for a non-incremental advance, not a minor upgrade.
What does IMLS mean by "significant innovation" in this context?
Significant innovation means the proposed work should be genuinely different from current practice or should leverage an underused opportunity. The application should also explain the concrete benefits that could result if the innovation is successful.
Is dissemination required?
Yes. A key feature of this opportunity is dissemination. Projects must include a plan to make findings widely and openly accessible so other organizations can learn from the results, replicate what works, and avoid repeating what does not.
What is the expected outcome of a Sparks project?
The expected outcome is practical learning: evidence about whether a proposed innovation works, what improvements are needed, and insights that can be shared openly to inform the broader library and archive field.
What program is this funding opportunity offered under?
This opportunity is offered under the IMLS National Leadership Grants for Libraries program and is described as a discretionary grant program for the FY15 cycle.
What is the CFDA number for this program (FY15 notice)?
The FY15 cycle described lists CFDA 45.312 (National Leadership Grants).
How much funding was available in the FY15 cycle?
IMLS anticipated making about 12 awards with an estimated total program funding level of $250,000.
What was the award size range for individual grants (FY15)?
Individual awards ranged from $10,000 to $25,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FY15 description states there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What is the funding opportunity number for this announcement?
The funding opportunity number listed is SPARKS LIBRARIES FY15.
When was the FY15 notice posted, and what were the key dates?
The notice was posted on December 1, 2014. The application deadline was February 2, 2015. The archive date was March 4, 2015.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes units of state or local government and private nonprofit organizations with IRS tax-exempt status, provided they are located in eligible U.S. jurisdictions listed in the announcement.
Which U.S. jurisdictions are included as eligible locations?
The eligible jurisdictions listed include the 50 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and several freely associated states and territories referenced in the announcement.
What types of library-related entities are specifically listed as eligible applicants?
Eligible applicant types include libraries or their parent organizations (such as school districts, municipalities, state agencies, or academic institutions that administer libraries), graduate library and information science units applying through their higher-education institutions, qualifying digital libraries that provide public access and professional library services, state library agencies, library consortia, and library associations that operate on a permanent basis to advance the library profession.
Can a parent organization apply on behalf of a library?
Yes. The announcement notes that libraries or their parent organizations may apply, including entities such as school districts, municipalities, state agencies, or academic institutions that administer libraries.
Are graduate library and information science units eligible?
Yes. Graduate library and information science units may apply through their higher-education institutions.
Are digital libraries eligible?
Yes, if they qualify as digital libraries that provide public access and professional library services.
Are library consortia and library associations eligible?
Yes. Library consortia and library associations are listed as eligible if the association operates on a permanent basis to advance the library profession.
Who are the listed points of contact for the opportunity?
The announcement lists Tim Carrigan and Sandra Toro, Senior Library Program Officers at IMLS, as points of contact, with phone numbers and email addresses provided in the original notice.
Where can applicants find the full official details?
The announcement references an additional information link on the IMLS website for full details.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (SPARKS LIBRARIES FY15) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants Program Apply for NAG ENHANCEMENT FY15 Funding Number: NAG ENHANCEMENT FY15 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants Program Apply for NAG HAWAIIAN FY15 Funding Number: NAG HAWAIIAN FY15 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Native American Library Services Basic Grants Program Apply for NAG BASIC FY15 Funding Number: NAG BASIC FY15 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $7,000 |
| National Conservation Assessment Program Apply for NCAP FY15 Funding Number: NCAP FY15 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| National Leadership Grants for Libraries Apply for NLG LIBRARIES FY16 Funding Number: NLG LIBRARIES FY16 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program Apply for LB21 FY16 Funding Number: LB21 FY16 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| 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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