Skip To Talking Book & Braille Service Content Skip Navigation

Nebraska Library Commission Website

Continuing Education and Training Grants

This year, the Nebraska Library Commission is opening the CE grants to 1) online learning, 2) attending conferences or workshops, and 3) larger continuing education projects.

The purpose of these grants is to assist Nebraska libraries in improving the library services provided to their communities through continuing education and training for their library personnel and supporters. Successful applications will show how the continuing education and/or training proposed will support the library's mission.

For this round of CE and training grants, applications should be for events happening before June 2025. (All reimbursement forms and receipts must be submitted by June 13, 2025.)

To learn more about this and other NLC Grants, watch the recording of the September 25, 2024 NCompass Live webinar, NLC Grants for 2025 (1 hour, 32 minutes).

There are three sections below:

Online Learning:

Apply for a grant to cover tuition for an individual to take an online course. Courses must be completed before June 2025.

Eligible courses include:

  • Library Juice Academy
  • ALA
  • ALA divisions
  • Infopeople
  • Others - if the courses can be shown to be directly related to librarianship and the provider is a recognized institutional provider of online continuing education (such as the American Management Association)

Course do not include:

  • Courses offered or sponsored by NLA, NSLA, the Nebraska Library Commission, or by a Nebraska Regional Library System
  • College, university, or professional certificate for-credit courses

Applications (see below) must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. CST on November 15, 2024. Faxes and U.S. mail will not be accepted. We will inform applicants whether they have received a grant on or before December 31, 2024.

The applicant must be either 1) employed in an accredited Nebraska public library or a state-run institutional library at the time of application and for the duration of the course, or 2) a current board member of an accredited Nebraska public library at the time of application and for the duration of the course.

Please note that if an entity, or a person working for that entity, has unresolved issues with any previous Commission grant projects, they will not be eligible to apply this year's Continuing Education and Training Grant.

We must receive, by 11:59 p.m. CST November 15, 2024, attached to the application or under separate cover, a completed acknowledgement and indication of support form from the library director, or if the applicant is a library director, from the head of the library board, or the city official to whom the director reports.

**Notes** The Nebraska Library Commission is not responsible for registering individuals for any courses. This is a reimbursement grant. If awarded a grant, you will register for the class, attend, then request reimbursement (with receipt and completion certificate) after the course is completed. Paperwork must be submitted by June 13, 2025.

Conferences or Workshops:

Apply for an individual to attend (virtually or in-person) a workshop or an out-of-state conference.

Conferences or workshops offered or sponsored by NLA, NSLA, the Nebraska Library Commission, or by a Nebraska Regional Library System are not eligible.

Eligible costs include:

  • Registration
  • Travel
  • Meals
  • Lodging
  • Preconference fees (but does not include networking or social events)

Conferences and workshops must be sponsored by a professional library organization or association, or can be shown in the application to be directly related to an area/issue of librarianship.

The applicant must be either 1) employed in an accredited Nebraska public library or a state-run institutional library at the time of application and for the duration of the course, or 2) a current board member of an accredited Nebraska public library at the time of application and for the duration of the course.

Applications (see below) must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. CST on November 15, 2024. Faxes and U.S. mail will not be accepted. We will inform applicants whether they have received a grant on or before December 31, 2024.

We must also recieve, by 11:59 p.m. CST November 15, 2024, attached to the application or under separate cover, a completed acknowledgement and indication of support form from the head of the library board, or the city official to whom the director reports.

**Notes** The Nebraska Library Commission is not responsible for registering individuals for any conferences or making any travel arrangements. This is a reimbursement grant. If awarded a grant, you will register for the conference and all other travel plans, attend, then request reimbursement (with receipts) after the conference is completed. Paperwork must be submitted by June 13, 2025. The NLC may make exceptions for conferences taking place in late June, such as ALA 2025.

Continuing Education and Training Projects:

Funding is available for larger continuing education or training projects. This funding is available for accredited public libraries in conjunction with recognized community organizations or agencies, groups of public libraries, regional library systems, consortia of public libraries, and state-run institutions. Libraries cooperating with other community entities must be the prime administrators of their grants.

Previous Projects:

  • ALA Chicago Roadtrip 2013
  • Inservice Day: Bridges Out of Poverty
  • Trustee Training and Board Development (Jim Connor)
  • Please visit Grants Recipients Database for more examples

Library board members, volunteers, advocates, and other supporter may be included in the training, as appropriate. Each grant requires a match of 25% of the amount requested.

This grant may not be applied toward the cost of academic education for an individual or individuals.

This grant may not be applied toward the cost of any individual attending Nebraska regional or statewide professional conferences, events sponsored by the Nebraska Library Commission for the purpose of training or continuing education, events sponsored by the Nebraska Regional Library Systems for the purpose of training or continuing education, or other similar workshops, conferences, meetings or events.

Applications (see below) and a Signature Page must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. CST on November 15, 2024. Faxes and U.S. mail will not be accepted. We will inform applicants whether they have received a grant on or before December 31, 2024.

Please note that if an entity, or a person working for that entity, has unresolved issues with any previous Commission grant projects, they will not be eligible to apply for this year's Continuing Education and Training Grant.

After the application is approved:

If you are awarded a CE Grant, you will receive more detailed information, including the grant agreement with the Nebraska Library Commission which must be signed, and additional details for requesting payment/reimbursement. Final paperwork must be submitted by June 13, 2025.

The Nebraska Library Commission is not responsible for making any arrangements for travel or registration for individuals or projects.

Submit all grant application forms and questions to:
Holli Duggan with the subject line, "CE Grant Application"

Application Forms:

  1. Grant Application - Individuals (Online Learning or Conference)
  2. Acknowledgement and Indication of Support Form
  3. Grant Application - Continuing Education Project
  4. Signature Page for CE Projects
For more information, contact Holli Duggan.