IMPORTANT!!!
2022 Youth Grants for Excellence will be available starting .
2022 Youth Grants for Excellence closed on
If you have any questions, please contact Sally Snyder
ARPA Youth Grants for Excellence - 2022
The Nebraska Library Commission has made funding available specifically for
innovative projects for children and young adults in legally established public
libraries, tribal libraries, and institutional libraries in Nebraska,
through a competitive grant process.
This year's funding is provided from the
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA),
as administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). ARPA
is the result of the federal stimulus bill passed by Congress. Nebraska has
received a one-time award of $2,422,166. A portion of that amount will be
available via these competitive grants.
Some of the usual rules and requirements for Youth
Grants for Excellence will be suspended for
this year only:
- No local match is required.
- All legally established public libraries are eligible, both
accredited and unaccredited, as well as tribal libraries and State run
institutions.
- Libraries will be able to use the grant funds for improving their
children's or teen collection (buy any books you feel you need), and to
purchase AWE workstations or an equivalent item, Playaway Launchpad,
computers, and furniture for the children's or teen areas.
To learn more, view the recording of the NCompass Live webinar,
NLC Grants for 2022.
PROGRAM GOALS
The program is designed to encourage creative thinking, risk-taking and new
approaches to address problems and needs of children and young adults in your
community. Grant awards enable youth librarians to begin needed programs and try
projects which they have been unable to undertake. The grants also offer an
opportunity to expand youth service capabilities in new and different
directions. It is also expected that the funding will provide a foundation for
ongoing rather than one-time services, which can be continued with community
support or through a reallocation of library funds.
For 2022, due to the grant being funded via ARPA, there are also additional
goals to consider. NLC has received broad guidance from IMLS, as different
communities have different needs. The stated goals from IMLS for the use of
ARPA funds are as follows:
- To enable libraries to reach residents with internet hotspots,
accessible Wi-Fi, digital content and related resources, and other
digital inclusion efforts, particularly in support of education, health,
and workforce development needs;
- To provide rapid emergency relief to libraries across the country,
allowing them to safely respond to the pandemic and implement public
health protocols; and
- To support library services that meet the needs of communities
throughout the U.S., including costs such as personnel, technology,
training, materials, supplies, and equipment.
With respect to the goals above, reach tribal and museum partners (eligible
libraries are encouraged to partner with museums) best positioned to assist
with pandemic response efforts, in addition to traditionally eligible
library entities, where appropriate.
ELIGIBLE ENTITIES
Any children's librarian, young adult librarian, or adult librarian
in charge of children's or young adult services in:
- Legally established public libraries
- Tribal libraries
- Identified institutional libraries (see
list)
In order to be eligible for fund distribution, public libraries must be
legally established and meet statutory requirements. Generally, see Neb.
Rev. Stat.
51-201, Neb. Rev. Stat.
51-202, and Neb. Rev. Stat.
51-203.
Schools, service agencies, and/or organizations may be involved through collaborative planning and
programming, thus receiving benefit from this project.
DEADLINES/TIMETABLES
Online applications were accepted through 11:59 PM (CT) on
October 7, 2021.
We expect to notify grant recipients on or shortly after November 19, 2021.
The print support materials
(e.g., catalog page or computer printout displaying item intended for purchase, list of books
and/or materials for purchase, estimates from suppliers, letters from project partners, etc.)
may be submitted during the week following the due date.
Any purchase made after March 15, 2021 is eligible
for reimbursement.
The final completion report must be submitted no later than
September 14,
2022.
PROJECT APPLICATION GUIDELINES
What is required in a Youth Grants for Excellence application?
- A brief statement of the need for the project: Why did you decide to do this project?
- Details about what you plan to do and how.
- Each grant project must have at least one program
(an event designed for the project, attended by youth, and usually held
in the library) for the youth of your community to attend. It can be a
special program or simply an Open House to give community members a
chance to see or try out the new items that you have purchased.
- Information about how you will determine the success of the project.
What kind of projects will be eligible for the Youth Grants for Excellence?
You may apply for a grant in an area that will benefit children and/or
teens and which you see as a need in your community, for example (but not
limited to), projects for youth (preschool, elementary school age, or teen)
that will:
- Encourage reading
- Early Childhood Reading Programs
- Concentrate on boys and reading
- Celebrate reading and books
- Encourage creativity
- Develop character
- Encourage and celebrate other materials or opportunities for youth
at your library
- Encourage library use by children and/or teens for whom English is a
learned language
- Assist library personnel in their ability to meet the service needs
of children and/or teens in their community.
Exemplary Sample Applications from past Youth Grants for Excellence
Tips for writing a successful grant application
INELIGIBLE COSTS
Should you have a question about eligible and ineligible costs, please
contact
Sally Snyder, Coordinator of Children and Young Adult Library Services. The following is a list of
ineligible costs:
- Food and beverages for workshops, meetings, or open houses;
- Sales tax;
- Construction/remodel costs;
- Buying computer hardware by public or school libraries unless the
library is CIPA compliant, which requires filtering;
- "Entertainment" for a program that is not educational in nature;
- Give-away or promotional items - key chains, refrigerator magnets,
T-shirts, mugs, pens, etc.;
- No built-in furniture (shelving, for example) may be purchased with
ARPA funds. All equipment purchased must be movable/non-fixed;
- Expenses incurred prior to the start date (March 15, 2021) or after
the end date (September 14, 2022) of this project;
- Advocacy, lobbying and "influencing" related to a yes/no vote;
- Social activities, alcoholic beverages and entertainment costs
(e.g., tickets and travel to shows or sporting events); and
- Public relations or advertising of general library services -
although you may and are encouraged to do public relations for specific
services or programs you are providing using ARPA funds. Examples: Not
allowed: "Come to the library, it's a great place to learn." Allowed:
"Come to the library's information literacy program and learn how to
search the databases provided with ARPA funds."
Generally, construction and installation costs are
not allowable
expenses. Projects that involve outside contractors or construction
trades are not allowable expenses. IMLS does allow what they call "construction-lite." If
installation can be done by library staff with minimal tools (e.g. drill and
screwdriver), then that would be an allowable cost/project. But, if the project
involves hiring someone from the construction trades (e.g. electrician) to
come in to do installation (e.g. running either electrical wiring or Ethernet
cables), then that would be an unallowable cost/project.
Please check with NLC for questions about
project proposals that involve construction and/or installation.
For more information, see
2 CFR 225 = Cost Principles and
IMLS Tip Sheet on Allowable CostsOTHER
REQUIREMENTS/GUIDELINES
- No local match is required.
- Libraries should still be supported through consistent local
government funding. These payments are not intended to replace local
funds for the library, but are granted to provide for enhanced services
over and above those provided through local funding. Libraries should be
aware that continued local support is an essential component of state
aid eligibility, as well as
maintenance of
effort requirements for state aid.
- Grant recipients must meet all requirements outlined in the grant
award documents. This includes crediting the Institute of Museum and
Library Services and the Nebraska Library Commission when undertaking
and promoting grant-supported activities by including the following
statement in all published materials:
This project is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library
Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act
as administered by the Nebraska Library Commission.
- CIPA COMPLIANCE: Projects which provide access to the Internet
require compliance with the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA);
this means Internet access must be filtered as required by the federal
LSTA funding. For grant proposals involving access to the Internet or
Internet-related projects, libraries must provide an Internet Safety
Certification (part of the Library Improvement Grant application).
For CIPA FAQ's, see ALA's
An Update on Filtering (Although this guide is for CIPA scenarios
for IMLS Cares Act Funding, the principles are applicable to ARPA
funding scenarios). For specific questions, contact
Christa Porter, State E-Rate Coordinator for Public Libraries.
- In order to be eligible for ARPA funding, libraries must
provide NLC with a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number.
Currently, this is a DUNS number provided by
registration through Dun
& Bradstreet. In some cases, your library or city may already have a
DUNS number. The link provided above allows you to register for a number
or look up an already existing number.
- Grant recipients must follow the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 with regard to technology.
Please review
IMLS Advisory: E-books Reader Lending Programs, and note that IMLS
encourages libraries to keep these laws in mind when acquiring new
public access technologies.
- Compliance with the provisions of the
NLC LSTA sub-grant manual is required, including compliance with
federal nondiscrimination laws, and access for persons with disabilities
and persons with limited English proficiency.
FORMS
Youth Grant for
Excellence
2022 Application
- closed October 7, 2021.
Youth Grant for
Excellence 2022 Completion Report. Due Date: September 14, 2022.
2021 Youth Grant Recipients: Youth Grants Final-Project Report Form
(
Word version)
(
PDF version)
Due September 23, 2021.
CONTACT INFORMATION
For questions, contact
Sally Snyder, Coordinator of Children and Young Adult Library Services.
Grant Recipients Database
- includes Children's Grants for Excellence 1998-2003 and Youth Grants for
Excellence 2004- .