PLA Award Programs

Deadline: December 1, 2012 at 12:00 AM Central.

PLA’s awards programs honor those providing public library service whose vision and accomplishments are extraordinary and deserve recognition. To submit an application or nomination, please login to the PLA Awards Online Application. The awards include:

• Allie Beth Martin Award: Honors a public librarian who has demonstrated extraordinary range and depth of knowledge about books or other library materials and has distinguished ability to share that knowledge. A plaque and a $3,000 honorarium are awarded.
• Baker & Taylor Entertainment Audio Music / Video Product Award: Designed to provide a public library the opportunity to build or expand a collection of either or both formats in whatever proportion the library chooses. The grant consists of $2,500 of Audio Music or Video Products.
• Charlie Robinson Award: Honors a public library director who, over a period of 7 years, has been a risk taker, an innovator and/or a change agent in a public library. The award consists of $1,000 and a gift.
• DEMCO New Leaders Travel Grant: Designed to enhance the professional development and improve the expertise of public librarians new to the field by making possible their attendance at major professional development activities. Plaques and travel grants of up to $1,500 per applicant are awarded.
• EBSCO Excellence in Small and/or Rural Public Library Service Award: Honors a public library serving a population of 10,000 or less that demonstrates excellence of service to its community as exemplified by an overall service program or a special program of significant accomplishment. A plaque and a $1,000 honorarium awarded.
• Gordon M. Conable Award: Honors a public library staff member, a library trustee, or a public library, that has demonstrated a commitment to intellectual freedom and the Library Bill of Rights. The award consists of $1,500 and a plaque.
• Highsmith Library Innovation Award: Recognizes a public library’s innovative and creative service program to the community. A plaque and a $2,000 honorarium are awarded.
• Polaris Innovation in Technology John Iliff Award: Recognizes the contributions of a library worker, librarian, or library that has used technology and innovative thinking as a tool to improve services to public library users. The award provides a $1,000 honorarium, a plaque and a bouquet of roses for the workplace.
• Romance Writers of America Library Grant: Designed to provide a public library the opportunity to build or expand its romance fiction collection and/or host romance fiction programming. The grant consists of $4,500 to be used toward the purchase of print or audio books and programming expenses. 

NEH National Digital Newspaper Program

Deadline: January 17, 2013

The National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP) is creating a national digital resource of historically significant newspapers published between 1836 and 1922, from all U.S. states and territories. This searchable database will be maintained at the Library of Congress and freely accessible online.

One organization within each U.S. state or territory will receive an award to collaborate with relevant state partners in this effort. Previously funded projects will be eligible to receive supplements for continued work, but the program will give priority to new projects. In particular, the program will give priority to projects from states and territories that have not received NDNP funding.

In the last five competitions the National Digital Newspaper Program received an average of fifteen applications per year. The program made an average of eleven awards per year, for a funding ratio of 73 percent.

The application and more details are provided on the NEH website. 

ALA Carnegie-Whitney Grants

Deadline: November 2, 2012

The Carnegie-Whitney Grant program provides grants of up to $5,000 for the preparation of print or electronic reading lists, indexes or other guides to library resources that promote reading or the use of library resources at any type of
library. The grants are intended to cover preparation costs appropriate to the development of a useful product, including the cost of research. The grants do not cover the costs of final printing or online distribution of the product.

Grants are awarded to individuals; local, regional or state libraries, associations or organizations, including units, affiliates and committees of the American Library Association, or programs of information and library studies/science. International applicants welcome.

The project(s) must:

• focus on American libraries
• demonstrate how the project would stimulate the use of library resources
• have the potential appeal and usefulness to a broad audience
• be intended for national distribution
• meet a need for publication
• be completed within two years.
• be new or in process. Completed works, works under contract for publication, or projects associated with the completion of academic work are not eligible.
  

For more information, visit the ALA website.

Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program

Deadline: September 24, 2012

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is accepting applications for the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. The program invests in the nation's information infrastructure by funding projects designed to address the education and training needs of the professionals who help build, maintain, and provide public access to information systems and sources.

In 2013, the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program will support projects to develop faculty and library leaders, to recruit and educate the next generation of librarians and archivists, to build institutional capacity in graduate schools of library and information science, and to assist in the professional development of librarians and archivists. Grants will be awarded in the categories of doctoral programs, master's programs, early career development, programs to build institutional capacity, and continuing education.

Visit the IMLS website for complete program guidelines, eligibility requirements and application procedures.

Grammy Foundation Grants in Music Preservation Projects

Deadline: October 1, 2012 (Letter of Inquiry)

Funded by the Recording Academy, the Grammy Foundation's grant program annually provides support for music archiving and preservation efforts and for scientific research projects related to the impact of music on the human condition.

The archiving and preservation projects grant program awards grants to organizations and individuals to support efforts that advance the archiving and preservation of the music and recorded sound heritage of the Americas. The archiving and preservation area has two funding categories — preservation implementation (grants of up to $20,000) and planning, assessment and/or consultation (grants of up to $5,000).

Visit the Grammy Foundation Web site for complete program guidelines and the Letter of Inquiry form.

Scholastic Library Publishing National Library Week Grant

Deadline: Sept. 30, 2012

Libraries seeking to share their stories and raise public awareness are encouraged to apply for the 2013 Scholastic Library Publishing National Library Week Grant. The library that develops the best public awareness campaign using the National Library Week theme will be awarded $3,000 to promote its library and library services.

All proposals must use the 2013 National Library Week theme, Communities matter @ your library, which incorporates 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 website.

The grant is sponsored by Scholastic Library Publishing, a division of Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, and is administered by the Public Awareness Committee of the American Library Association (ALA). National Library Week is April 14-20, 2013.

A grant application form and guidelines are available on the Scholastic Library Publishing National Library Week Grant website.

ALA/NEH: Muslim Journeys, a Bridging Cultures Bookshelf Grant Program

Deadline: September 25, 2012

Apply for the opportunity to help your patrons understand the people, places, history, faith, and culture of Muslims in the U.S. and around the world. 1,000 recipients will receive a collection of 25 books that highlight pluralism of cultural forms and traditions within the Muslim world; three documentary films; a subscription to Oxford Islamic Studies Online; additional resources such as essays, discussion questions and podcasts; and materials to support program promotion, including bookmarks, posters, and bookplates. These grants are provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities in collaboration with the ALA Public Programs Office.

All public libraries, community college and academic libraries, and state and territorial humanities councils in the US and its territories are eligible to apply for the Muslim Journeys collection.

In return for receiving a Bookshelf, libraries are required to organize programs that introduce the books and the Muslim Journeys themes to the library’s patrons and the broader community.

For more information, visit the website to review the grant guidelines, plan programs, and apply online for the collection.