Ashley Sands: Hello everyone, my name is Ashley sands and I am a senior program officer and the office of library services that I unless today i'm joined by my colleagues made coo drill and Sarah fuller.
Ashley Sands: We would like to briefly go over I mls and its strategic priorities and provide an overview of the national leadership grants for libraries and the Laura Bush 21st century library and grant programs.
Ashley Sands: We will also review eligibility criteria, the funding and project categories take you through the application process and provide you some tips to help your application can be complete and competitive.
Ashley Sands: mls as an independent grant making agency and the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums.
Ashley Sands: i'm unless ensures helps to ensure that all Americans have access to museum library and information services, you can read our mission and vision on this slide and on our website I mls.gov.
Ashley Sands: The mls strategic plan lays out several goals for the agencies work and our first strategic goal unless supports learning and literacy for people of all ages through museums and libraries.
Ashley Sands: And our second strategic goal, I must strengthens Community inclusive engagement across diverse audiences.
Ashley Sands: And then, our third strategic goal i'm less make strategic investments that support collections care and management.
Ashley Sands: i'm less also seeks to promote access to museum and library collections and you can find the strategic plan and more information about it on our website i'm less Doc up.
Ashley Sands: Today we're talking about two of our grant programs, both of which have a deadline of September 24 2021.
Ashley Sands: The first is the national leadership grants for libraries program, otherwise known as an LG.
Ashley Sands: This grant program supports projects that address critical needs of the library and archives fields and has the potential to advance practice and these professions to strengthen library and archival services for the American public.
Ashley Sands: Successful pro proposals will demonstrate national impact will address a current issue facing libraries and archives will incorporate collaboration and show relevant expertise about the topic at hand.
Ashley Sands: It isn't particularly important to note the essential nature of national impact in an LG application applications cannot only benefit a single individual or a single library or archives competitive proposal show the potential for far reaching impact across institutions.
Ashley Sands: Please note that we also do not accept applications that are strictly for digitization and we cannot accept applications for construction.
Ashley Sands: The goals for the energy program are to generate projects of national impact that build the workforce and institutional capacity for managing the national information infrastructure and serving the information and educational needs of the public.
Ashley Sands: build the capacity of libraries and archives to lead and contribute to efforts and improve Community well being and strengthen civic engagement.
Ashley Sands: improve the ability of libraries and archives, to provide broad access to and use of information and collections, with an emphasis on collaboration to avoid duplication and to maximize REACH.
Ashley Sands: The goals includes strengthening the ability of libraries to provide services to affected communities in the event of an emergency or disaster and to strengthen the ability of libraries, archives and museums, to work collaboratively for the benefits of the communities that they serve.
Ashley Sands: Each application should align their proposed project with one of these five program goals.
Ashley Sands: And one or more of the associated objectives, the goal and objective choices should be identified clearly in the proposal narrative.
Ashley Sands: The second program we are discussing today is the Laura Bush 21st century library and program or lb for short.
Ashley Sands: And this program is designed to support the development of a diverse workforce of Librarians and archivists in order to meet the information needs of their communities.
Ashley Sands: So, like an LG successful proposals will include a broad impact they will address a current issue facing libraries and archives.
Ashley Sands: They will include collaborative elements and, of course, show relevant expertise about the topic at hand, as well as broadening participation in the library and archives profession, through the recruitment education and retention of a diverse workforce.
Ashley Sands: So again, similar to an LG it's important to note this phrase broad impact and and there'll be 21 application.
Ashley Sands: Generally speaking, applications cannot only benefit a single individual or a single library or archives instead competitive proposal show the potential for far reaching impact across institutions.
Ashley Sands: And for both of these programs, please keep in mind that September 24 will be the only deadline for submitting preliminary proposals for this fiscal year.
Ashley Sands: The goals for the Laura Bush program are to generate projects of broad impact that recruit train develop and retain a diverse workforce of library and archives professionals.
Ashley Sands: But develop faculty library and archives leaders, by increasing the institutional capacity of libraries, archives and of graduate programs related to library and information science.
Ashley Sands: and enhance the training and professional development of the library and archival workforce to meet the needs of their communities.
Ashley Sands: Again, each applicant should align their proposed project, one of these three program goals and one or more of the associated objectives, the goal and objective choices should be identified clearly in the proposal narrative.
Ashley Sands: I on the I mls website, we have landing pages for each of the two programs now if you're on this webinar it's likely you've already visited one or both, but these pages, provide an overview over the programs they provide links to the full notices of funding opportunity or no photos.
Ashley Sands: And also, of course, this webinar recording So if you want to refer to this applicant webinar later that's where you will find it.
Ashley Sands: In addition, on each page, you can find a list of the relevant I am list program staff that you can contact with questions about the grant programs and the application process.
Ashley Sands: If you're unsure who to contact, please just reach out to one of us and we'll make sure that you get connected to the program officer, whose expertise best aligns with your project idea.
Ashley Sands: Eligibility so your organization is eligible to apply if it is one a unit of state or local government or a 501 C three nonprofit to it's located in one of the 50 US states or territories and three it's one of six types of organizations which we will list on the next slide.
Ashley Sands: Please also note that there Laura Bush program has additional eligibility restrictions for the early career development proposals, so you should pay close attention to that in the notice of funding opportunity.
Ashley Sands: So in addition to the criteria that you just saw on the previous slide your organization is eligible to apply if you are one of the six types of organizations.
Ashley Sands: Including a library or parent organization and academic or administrative unit a digital library or a library agency consortium association or organization.
Ashley Sands: Of course, if you have any questions about your eligibility, please reach out to someone on our program staff.
Ashley Sands: Note that you are not eligible to apply to these programs, if you are a federally operated institution a for profit institution an individual or a foreign country or organization.
Ashley Sands: Just to clarify a federally operated institution does not mean an institution that receives other federal grants What it means is that you are a federal agency, for example, the library of Congress, or the smithsonian we cannot find those institutions.
Ashley Sands: note also that if you are an ineligible institution we encourage you to partner with an eligible institution, so, while you cannot be the lead applicant, you can apply through a partnership with an eligible institution and may be able to receive funding in that manner.
Ashley Sands: More information on eligibility and all of these topics is provided in the guidelines on our website, but the point here is that it's important to figure out early if you're eligible to apply for the program that is of interest to you.
Ashley Sands: Here we've provided some guidance for those of you who are unsure whether your project idea fits into an LG or lb 21.
Ashley Sands: So, if your project is primarily about education and training for information professionals, whether that's a formal or informal education, you should probably apply to LV 21.
Ashley Sands: If you are a non tenured tenure track faculty Member interested in research funding you'll want to look at the early career research development category and lb.
Ashley Sands: Otherwise, any other work of national significance to libraries, archives and information science little likely fall under the energy Program.
Ashley Sands: course please make sure to read through the nose of funding opportunity carefully to ensure your project is aligned with the correct grant program and that you meet the eligibility criteria.
Ashley Sands: Again, if you're unsure please contact one of us here at I mls and our program staff for guidance.
Ashley Sands: All applicants will also need to be selecting a project category for their proposals.
Ashley Sands: These project categories have different limits about the period of performance of the grant which you can see here in this table.
Ashley Sands: So planning grants, these are for preliminary project activities, many people think about this as planning for a larger grant but that's not a requirement.
Ashley Sands: planning activities and include conducting preliminary research conducting an environmental scan rapidly prototyping a new program or service or working on creating partnerships to support larger future activities.
Ashley Sands: forum grants are for convening experts and stakeholders around an issue of national significance this could be to support one large meeting or several meetings focused on a particular area to establish a shared agenda or understanding.
Ashley Sands: these first two kinds of grants planning and forum are for periods of one to two years.
Ashley Sands: Now implementation grants and applied research grants support project implementation or development activities, as well as investigating key research questions in library and archival practice, these two kinds of programs are limited to 123 years.
Ashley Sands: And again, the lb 21 program also offers the early career research development category supporting the research of until your tenure track library and information science faculty and is also for that one to three year period.
Ashley Sands: To give you a better sense of the scale here are the maximum and minimum dollar amounts, you may request, which are based on the funding category that you select.
Ashley Sands: As you can see, in both programs, the minimum dollar request is $50,000.
Ashley Sands: Now there is flexibility within the funding levels, but you should keep in mind that we have limited funding and both programs are highly competitive.
Ashley Sands: We fund very few million dollar projects and there is a value proposition that comes into play the higher amount you're asking for the more compelling your case must be for how your work will impact the entire field and represent a significant return on investment.
Ashley Sands: The notices a funding opportunity also spell out these funding caps, along with any cost share requirements.
Ashley Sands: crusher crusher is not considered in the review of applications, but it is an eligibility criteria, again, this is spelled out in the notices of funding opportunity.
Ashley Sands: Generally, a one to one cost share is required in both programs, but with a few exceptions, so applicants and the applied research funding category, as well as all applicants requesting less than 240 $9,999 are exempt from the crusher requirement.
Ashley Sands: Additionally, Laura Bush applicants are not required to cost share the specific funds that budgeted for students support.
Ashley Sands: Please remember that if a cost is an allowable, for I mls funds, it is also an allowable for cost share.
Ashley Sands: I am now going to pass it along to my colleague, Sarah fuller to continue the presentation beginning by highlighting what's new or different in these funding opportunities this year.
Sarah Fuller: Right Thank you Ashley.
Sarah Fuller: If you are familiar with our programs from recent years, you will notice that the goals and objectives are new for this year.
Sarah Fuller: Additionally, we no longer require you to select a project category, you may remember them as lifelong learning Community catalyst and national digital infrastructures and initiatives.
Sarah Fuller: Instead, all applicants should choose the goal and objective that best describe your project focus this change was made to simplify the application process and does not represent a change in agency direction the previous project categories are still reflected, with a new goals and objectives.
Sarah Fuller: applicants will also still be required to choose a project type, but you may notice the language for these has changed.
Sarah Fuller: The project, the previously known project category has been replaced with implementation, the change produces confusion and subtly reflects an emphasis on projects that have the potential to be easily adaptable, sustainable and widely implementable across the field.
Sarah Fuller: The research and service to practice category has been replaced with applied research applied research is more commonly used in grant making and in libraries and archives.
Sarah Fuller: We continue to seek proposals and investigate topics or questions relevant to library and information science practice that will have findings and implications for library and archival practice shared throughout the award period.
Sarah Fuller: Finally, we have simplified National Forum before, but please note this short phrase is not intended to lessen the importance of national or broad impact which are still required for no LG and i'll be 21 proposals.
Sarah Fuller: Also, new this year is that both the national leadership grant in the lower bus 21st century library and grant programs.
Sarah Fuller: use for performance measures as a basis for understanding one how well the grant program is meeting its goals and to how individual projects are being managed.
Sarah Fuller: While it is not necessary to reference it in the preliminary proposal phase.
Sarah Fuller: Applicants preparing an invited full proposal will be asked to describe how they will monitor and assess their performance and carrying out their project using these four metrics so maybe something you want to start thinking about now.
Sarah Fuller: Each application must include three forms that are generated within grants.gov and a two page preliminary proposal narrative no other documents will be accepted applications must be submitted through grants.gov before midnight Eastern time on September 24 2021.
Sarah Fuller: Please, know that the grants.gov has adopted a workspace feature which you may be required to use to submit your proposal, we recommend you give yourself ample time to familiarize yourself with this system.
Sarah Fuller: i'm a lesson internal system for reviewing applications from grants.gov will only accept documents in PDF form.
Sarah Fuller: Any applications that include a non PDF document will be bounced back by our system and will not be considered submitted, we recommend ensuring all documents are in PDF format prior to middle and submit early do not wait until 11pm on the night of the deadline to submit your proposal.
Sarah Fuller: After proposals are submitted through grants.gov I am a less staff screen them for completeness and eligibility.
Sarah Fuller: After that proposals undergo peer review after peer review all applicants will receive reviewer comments and feedback, the most competitive applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal for further consideration.
Sarah Fuller: applicants who are invited to submit for proposals will need to submit those by March 25 2022.
Sarah Fuller: The required components for fall proposals are much more extensive and are also listed in the notices of funding opportunity.
Sarah Fuller: These applications are also submitted through grants.gov and will similarly undergo a peer review process.
Sarah Fuller: Full proposal applicants will be provided reviewer comments and feedback, regardless of whether the application is selected for funding or not.
Sarah Fuller: The mls director makes final funding decisions which will be announced in July of 2022 pending the availability of funds and, at the discretion of the director.
Sarah Fuller: These are important dates, you need to be aware of during this application cycle, please read through the notices of funding opportunity carefully to ensure you aren't meeting eligibility criteria and have fulfilled all of the application requirements.
Sarah Fuller: There are three places where you must register your organization in order to be able to submit a proposal dunn's Sam and grants.gov we strongly recommend immediately checking that all of these registrations are active, as you can take some.
Sarah Fuller: I renew them.
Sarah Fuller: First, your organization will need a duns number the URL for acquiring a duns number is on the slide please note unique.
Sarah Fuller: entity identifier uti will be replacing the duns number and April 2022 and will be requested in and assigned by the system for a word management or Sam for application, you will still need a duns number a duns number.
Sarah Fuller: Next, your institution must be registered with Sam it's important to keep in mind that your staff registration is good for one year and must be renewed every year.
Sarah Fuller: that's something you don't want to be doing right before the deadline so we recommend checking your status early if it's not your job to track your staff registration, we recommend you contact the person at your organization, whose job it is so you can make sure that this is in place.
Sarah Fuller: And finally you'll need an account@grants.gov, which is a portal, through which you will submit your application.
Sarah Fuller: Please allow at least two weeks for the registration process here, and even if you know you're registered make sure you know who is authorized for your institution and make sure they know their login information.
Sarah Fuller: In fact, if you don't absolutely know for sure that this is all in place now i'd recommend checking on it as soon as we get done today again it's not something you want to be trying to accomplish anywhere close to the deadline.
Sarah Fuller: For the final part of this webinar will go over some tips for preparing a competitive application.
Sarah Fuller: You should think about the preliminary proposal narrative as a movie trailer providing the highlights, and what a full proposal would include.
Sarah Fuller: We recommend that it is quite challenging that we recognize it is quite a challenge fitting all of the information about your project into two pages, so you will want to be as distinct and specific as possible.
Sarah Fuller: The preliminary proposal should follow the general sections of the full proposal narrative and address the project justification project work plan and project results for Laura Bush valore bus program it must also include a diversity plan.
Sarah Fuller: Some elements, you will want to address in your preliminary proposal include clearly identifying the project director and any project partners, this can easily and quickly be done in the first sentence.
Sarah Fuller: Institution X, an institution why will partner together to make a or accomplish the they requested the dollars from my mls we recommend for going lengthy introductions and getting directly into the meat of what your project is all about, and first sentence or two.
Sarah Fuller: In your project justification, you will want to ground your project in current and relevant research and practice.
Sarah Fuller: You will want to give an outline of your proposed work plan, what will it look like and how will it be accomplished.
Sarah Fuller: If it's a research proposal, you must also articulate specific research questions and describe your data collection and analysis methods.
Sarah Fuller: You should make clear the relevance of your project to the program goal and also demonstrate the potential national impact and projected outcomes of your work.
Sarah Fuller: Please know a budget summary is required and must include the total anticipated cost of the project, including shot cost share if that's required.
Sarah Fuller: And a breakdown of how funds would be located two different cost categories proposals that do not include this information will be rejected, without review.
Sarah Fuller: The search awarded grants section of the mls website, as the full and preliminary proposals associated with the Laura Bush 21st century library and grant Program.
Sarah Fuller: And the national leadership grant program projects that have been funded over the past few years, these can be helpful to review as you start to work on your own proposal.
Sarah Fuller: I am less will instruct for viewers, to consider the following review criteria when evaluating luminary proposals applicants applicants will want to keep these in mind when writing the two page proposal.
Sarah Fuller: How well just a proposal address the goals and objectives of the grant program what elements are in place and what elements are missing for successful execution of the proposed project what recommendations, do you have for improving the proposal.
Sarah Fuller: Considering the topic project type selection amount of funds requested and scope of potential impact should the applicant be invited to submit a full proposal at this time, why or why not.
Sarah Fuller: So notice is a funding opportunity have specific guidance for applications and the research in the research and in the applied research practice category i'm sorry we have the old name in there for a second.
Sarah Fuller: This slide list some of the questions we asked you to consider including thinking about the research questions theoretical framing research methods and other aspects of your proposed project.
Sarah Fuller: So please note that applied research and early career development to eliminate proposals must include research questions again applied research and early career development preliminary proposal absolutely must include research questions.
Sarah Fuller: i'm always program officers are available to discuss your project ideas with you and to look over a draft of your preliminary proposal.
Sarah Fuller: If you'd like a program officer to take a look at a draft please email it to one of us by September 1 2021 sending it and sending it to us even earlier is preferred but Sep tember first will be the last day, we were able to accept drafts via email.
Sarah Fuller: One of us will take a look at it, and then we will schedule a phone call with you to discuss your draft and to answer any questions you might have.
Sarah Fuller: Please refer to the list at the end of this presentation to identify the program officer, whose expertise best aligned with the subject matter in your proposal.
Sarah Fuller: While we can continue to answer questions you may have about the process we can read and provide feedback only on one draft submission for each proposal we highly encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity.
Sarah Fuller: Finally, here are some things that you can do to ensure you're submitting your most competitive proposal, the first you've already accomplished by attending this webinar.
Sarah Fuller: Next, you want to choose the grant program and goal that best goes with your proposal idea.
Sarah Fuller: Some other tips are to read through the preliminary proposals from last year to get some ideas of what was successful and how they structure their proposal.
Sarah Fuller: articulate your project goals as quickly as possible and the luminary proposal make sure you include a budget paragraph and be sure you are submitting all the completed and required documents in PDF format.
Sarah Fuller: I highly recommend having a colleague unfamiliar with your project read through your proposal prior to submission, we all get too close to our work and this one sure that the proposal you're submitting clearly communicates your project ideas.
Sarah Fuller: As we mentioned already program staff are available to assist with any questions you have about proposal process.
Sarah Fuller: Here are some of the topical areas reflected in each program officers expertise and funding portfolio.
Sarah Fuller: This table is not intended to be comprehensive, but more so, is intended to give you a sense of the best person to reach out to you.
Sarah Fuller: That being said, we are close group so if we believe one of our colleagues is better expertise to discuss your project, we will ensure the person with the closest expertise gets back to you.
Sarah Fuller: And don't forget program staff are available to discuss your project ideas with you and to look over a draft of your preliminary proposal.
Sarah Fuller: To take advantage of this opportunity, you must email a draft of your proposal no later than end of day on Wednesday September 1 one draft submission is a limited for each proposal.
Sarah Fuller: And you're more than welcome and even encouraged to email or contact us well in advance of that deadline, thank you for joining us for this presentation and we really look forward to hearing from you soon.