The Institute of Museum and Library Services is offering a webinar on several funding opportunities. The webinar will be held twice: today, January 5, from 2:00 to 3:00 PM CST, and again on Thursday, January 14, from 1:00 to 2:00 PM CST. There is no cost to attend. The webinar will cover the National Leadership Grants for Libraries and the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. Both grants are currently in their second cycle of funding. The deadline to apply is February 2. A two-page preliminary proposal is required. Applicants who applied for the first cycle of funding but were rejected are welcome to apply again. Chosen applicants will be contacted in June and will have the opportunity to submit a full proposal.
Applications for the National Leadership Grants should focus on either of the IMLS priorities, a national digital platform and learning in libraries. Applicants may also examine what advances library and archival services in the U.S., what will assist librarians and archivists in managing funding for their projects, and what information and resources libraries and archives can share. Selected proposals should produce new resources, guidelines, and models from which many libraries can benefit, via federal funding. The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program backs educational opportunities, including professional development and continuing education, that will aid librarians and archivists in addressing the evolving learning and information requirements of the American people. Awards range from $50,000 to $500,000.
To access the webinar, go here. You will need to install the Blackboard Collaborate Launcher if you don’t already have it. For more background on the programs, including contacts if you have specific questions, click here (for the Laura Bush program) and here (for the National Leadership Grants program).