Grants! Free money! There for the asking!

Well, okay. It’s not *quite* that easy.

But!

The American Library Association is giving out money to libraries of all types that are serving small and/or rural communities.

If you are reading this, you might fit their qualifications!

“But, wait!” you exclaim. “I’ve never written a grant! I don’t know where to start!”

No worries. You are a member of a multitype library system. You don’t have to do anything to become a member; just being in a Minnesota library of any type and size makes you one. Congratulations!

If you are a member of CMLE, we will write the grant application for you! Just send us some ideas for assorted stuff you might want, and we will do the rest for you.

(If you are outside of CMLE’s twelve county area, still get in touch with your multitype system. They can either help you or guide you to someone who can!)

WE WANT YOU TO HAVE FREE MONEY!

Here is all the info from the ALA:

Libraries Transforming Communities:
Focus on Small and Rural Libraries – Guidelines

Deadline for Submission: Wednesday, December 2, 2020 by 11:59 pm (CST)
Award Notification Date: Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Apply Online via Foundant

Questions?

Before starting, read the implementation grant FAQ and carefully review the requirements below in each category for the grant.

Contact the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office staff at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 5045, or publicprograms@ala.org.

Table of Contents

1. Initiative Description
2. Eligibility
3. Award Information
4. Requirements
5. Project Design
6. Eligible Expenses
7. Application and Submission Information
8. Application Review
9. Grant Administration Information
10. Points of Contact

Eligibility

• Applicants must have an institutional OR personal membership with either the American Library Association OR the Association for Rural & Small Libraries.
• This opportunity is open to all types of libraries serving small and/or rural communities in the U.S. and U.S. territories.
  • The Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) defines libraries serving small communities as those with a legal service area population of 25,000 or less and a rural community as one that is more than, or equal to, five miles from an urbanized area.
• Only complete and eligible applications that are received on time will be reviewed.

Eligible Expenses

LTC grant funds are restricted to project related expenses. Eligible expenses may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Purchase of Personal Protective Equipment and supplies
• Purchase of collection materials
• Tech equipment (e.g. virtual meeting licenses, iPads, Wi-Fi hotspots, etc.)
• Project supplies (e.g. markers, index cards, post-its, etc)
• Library staff time
• Additional facilitation training for library staff (e.g. equity, diversity and inclusion facilitation skills training)
• Payment to project partners for reimbursement or direct funding of services and support provided (e.g. childcare providers, translators, instructors, co-facilitator, etc.)
• Promotion and publicity

Grant funds may not be used to support indirect costs (e.g. general library administrative expenses).

Browse the rest here.