LSTA Procedures

for Competitive Grants

Stacey Aldrich, Gerry Maginnity, LDS StaffFebruary 17, 2009

Agenda

• Overview of LSTA

• How much is available? When is it due?

• Review grant application

• Q&A

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

California LSTA 5-Year Plan, 2008-2012

I. Literacy and Educational Support

II. Responsive Changes in Library Services

III. Digital Preservation and Resource Sharing

IV. Technological Access for All

V. Access and Accessibility

Please check out the California LSTA Five-Year Plan 2008-20212 athttp://www.library.ca.gov/grants/lsta/docs/STATE_PLAN_08_12.pdf

Before you write a competitive grant

• Digital Storytelling Program Due Date: May 4, 2009 Amount: up to $10,000 plus equipment

• Local History Digital Resources Program Due Date: May 4, 2009 Amount: up to $5,000

• Out-of-School-Time Online Homework Help Program Due Date: April 1, 2009 Amount: up to $100,000 in year 1, sliding scale in years 2 & 3

• Public Library Staff Education Program– Due Date: March 18, 2009

– Amount: up to $5,000 per year for up to 5 years

A total amount of $750,000 is available for this competitive cycle.

All grants will be DUE MAY 4, 2009DUE MAY 4, 2009.

grant application

grant application: 9 elements

1. Basic Information

2. Project Background and Summary

3. Planning and Evaluation

4. Grant Timeline/Activities

5. Budget

6. Attachments

7. Internet Certifications for Applicant

8. Assurances

9. Certifications

element 1: basic information

Applicant Information

• All of the basic contact information for you and your library.

element 1: basic information

Applicant Information

• All of the basic contact information for you and your library.

Project Information

• Project Title• LSTA Funds Requested• Local Match• Total Project Cost• Federal LSTA Purpose• California’s FY2008 Priorities• Number of persons served• Primary audience• Signature of the Director

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 CLEARand

CONCISE

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…

element 3: planning and evaluation – item A

Project PurposeThe purpose statement should answer the following questions:

1. We do what,

2. for whom,

3. 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.

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

element 3: planning and evaluation – item C

Project OutputsOutputs 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

element 3: planning and evaluation – item D

Project OutcomesOutcomes 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, 2004, 85% of parents/caregivers read to their children 5 or more times.

element 3: planning and evaluation – item D

Project OutcomesOutcomes 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, 2004, 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).

element 3: planning and evaluation – item D

Determining if you have an Outcome Measurement Project

Need to include in Grant App

element 3: planning and evaluation – item D

How will you measure you outcomes?

element 3: planning and evaluation – item E

This project will be successful if…• Think about the project completed.

• What does success look like?

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.

Activity 2009

July Aug Sept

Meet with children’s librarians to create reading kits x

Order materials and put together reading kits x x

Example

element 5: budget

• Complete budget table – designed to provide detail information about the requested funding

1. Salaries & Benefits2. Materials3. Equipment (Items over $5,000

per unit)4. Operating Expenses

1. Contracted Services2. Supplies3. Other Charges (include travel)

• Local Match – what is your library contributing toward the project?

• Indirect – up to 10% of the total LSTA funding that you are requesting

• Describe how project will be supported financially in future

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.

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.

application submission

•WHAT: Submit Original and 3 copies

•HOW*: By mail, non-postal, fax, email

•WHEN: By 4:30 p.m. on May 4, 2009

*Addresses, fax, and email address for submission are in the Instruction Guide. If you fax or 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.

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 PotterPHONE: 916-653-4730EMAIL: mpotter@library.ca.gov