LSTA Procedures for Competitive Grants

1. LSTA Procedures for Competitive Grants Stacey Aldrich, Gerry Maginnity, LDS Staff January 27, 2010

2. Agenda • Overview of LSTA • How much is available? When is it due? • Review grant application • Q&A

3. Overview of LSTA LSTA Priorities • expand services for learning and access to information and educational resources in a variety of formats, in all types of library, for individuals of all ages; • develop library services that provide all users access to information through local, state, regional, national, and international electronic networks; • provide electronic and other linkages between and among all types of libraries; • develop public and private partnerships with other agencies and community-based organizations; • target library services to individuals of diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, to individuals with disabilities, and to individuals with limited functional literacy or information skills; and • target library and information services to persons having difficulty using a library and to underserved urban and rural communities, including children from families with incomes below the poverty line

4. California LSTA 5-Year Plan, 2008-2012 • Literacy and Educational Support • Responsive Changes in Library Services • Digital Preservation and Resource Sharing • Technological Access for All • Access and Accessibility Please check out the California LSTA Five-Year Plan 2008-20212 at http://www.library.ca.gov/grants/lsta/docs/STATE_PLAN_08_12.pdf

5. Before you write a competitive grant • Digital Storytelling Program • Due Date: April 22, 2010 • Amount: up to $10,000 plus equipment • Local History Digital Resources Program • Due Date: April 22, 2010 • Amount:up to $5,000 • Out-of-School-Time Online Homework Help Program • Due Date: April 1, 2010 • Amount:up to $100,000 in year 1, sliding scale in years 2 & 3 • Public Library Staff Education Program • Due Date: March 25, 2010 • Amount: up to $5,000 per year for up to 5 years

6. A total amount of $1,000,000 is available for this competitive cycle. All grants will be DUE APRIL 5, 2010.

7. grant application

8. grant application:9 elements • Basic Information • Project Background and Summary • Planning and Evaluation • Grant Timeline/Activities • Budget • Attachments • Internet Certifications for Applicant • Assurances • Certifications

9. Applicant Information All of the basic contact information for you and your library. element 1:basic information

10. Applicant Information All of the basic contact information for you and your library. Project Information Project Title LSTA Funds Requested Cash Match In-Kind Total Project Cost Federal LSTA Purpose California’s Goals Number of persons served Congressional District Primary audience Signature of the Director element 1:basic information

11. element 2:project background & summary • Introduction to your project • Limited to 1 page • 12 point font • Brief background of library • How you identified the need for your project • How the project relates to your library jurisdiction’s strategic plan • What will be accomplished if you implement the project? BE CLEAR and CONCISE

12. element 3:planning and evaluation • 12 point font • 5 items (A-E) A. Project Purpose B. Project Activities/Methods C. Project Outputs D. Project Outcomes E. This project will be successful if…

13. element 3:planning and evaluation – item A Project Purpose The purpose statement should answer the following questions: • We do what, • for whom, • for what expected benefit Example: The Springfield County Library’s “It’s Never Too Early” program will provide a series of structured activities (including story hours and developmental reading kits) for children ages birth to five and their parent/caregivers to increase the amount of reading time young children have with adults and enable pre-school children to start kindergarten on time.

14. element 3:planning and evaluation – item B Project Activities/Methods • Activities or methods that will be used to carry out your project • Describe steps needed to reach desired results • Should be linked to timeline

15. element 3:planning and evaluation – item C Project Outputs Outputs are measures of service or products provided. • Examples: • 15 story hours will be held • 50 children and caregivers will have participated • 5 kits will be created and given to each branch

16. element 3:planning and evaluation – item D Project Outcomes Outcomes are changes in a target audience’s skills, knowledge, behavior, attitude, and status or life condition. Outcomes are: • measurable • stated in terms of who, what, when, and how much; • stated in terms of how they will be measured; • clear on how much change is expected; • state in numerical terms Example: By August 31, 2010, 85% of parents/caregivers read to their children 5 or more times.

17. element 3:planning and evaluation – item D Project Outcomes Outcomes are changes in a target audience’s skills, knowledge, behavior, attitude, and status or life condition. Outcomes are: • measurable • stated in terms of who, what, when, and how much; • stated in terms of how they will be measured; • clear on how much change is expected; • state in numerical terms Example: Bu August 31, 2010, 85% of parents/caregivers read to their children 5 or more times a week. NOTE:Your project may not lend itself to Outcomes. Be sure to create solid outputs (item C).

18. element 3:planning and evaluation – item D Determining if you have an Outcome Measurement Project Guidance for filling out on pages 10-12 of Guide

19. element 3:planning and evaluation – item D How will you measure you outcomes?

20. element 3:planning and evaluation – item E This project will be successful if… • Think about the project completed. • What does success look like?

21. element 4:grant timeline/activities • Timeline of major project activities • Indicates when activities begin and end • List activity and put x’s in the boxes that indicate the months that the activity will be done. Example

22. element 5:budget • Complete budget table – designed to provide detail information about the requested funding • Salaries & Benefits • Materials • Equipment (Items over $5,000 per unit) • Operating Expenses • Contracted Services • Supplies • Other Charges (include travel) • What is your library contributing toward the project? - Cash Match - In-Kind • Indirect – up to 10% of the total LSTA funding that you are requesting • Describe how project will be supported financially in the future

23. element 6:attachments Attachments should provide supporting data for information provided in the narrative. Examples include: • letter of support from individuals or groups directly involved in the project • a list of contacts made or other projects visited • citations from reports supporting the needs statement • staff position descriptions • sample evaluation tools • other information that supports your grant narrative, e.g. information about research based models

24. element 7,8,9:certifications & assurances Each library has to complete and sign the certifications and assurances represented in elements 7,8, and 9. • Element 7: Internet Certification for Applicant (SIGNATURE) • Element 8: Assurances • Element 9: Certifications (SIGNATURE) Be sure to read and to get the appropriate signatures before sending in your grant application.

25. application submission • WHAT: Submit Original and 3 copies • HOW*: By mail, non-postal, email • WHEN: By 4:30 p.m. on April 5, 2010 *Addresses and email address for submission are in the Instruction Guide. If you email your application, you will need to mail the signed Element 1 page and certification pages. The signature pages will need to be received within 7 days of the faxed or emailed application.

26. Please feel free to contact any LDS Staff Member. All contact information is available via http://www.library.ca.gov/about/staff/dept/lds.html or CONTACT: Mickie Potter PHONE: 916-653-4730 EMAIL: mpotter@library.ca.gov