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The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which now adminsters the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants, has recently issued new guidelines for project proposals for FY 1998 for its Native American Library Services program. This program helps improve library services to meet the needs of Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages through basic library services grants, technical assistance grants, and enhancement grants.
The LSTA statute, as recently amended (P.L. 105-128, Dec. 1, 1997), provides that 1.75 percent of LSTA appropriations be reserved for library services to Native Americans.
The Basic Library Services grants are small grant awards that support core library operations on a noncompetitive basis to eligible tribal libraries. They ensure a minium level of public library service. Funds may be used for such costs as salaries for library personnel, planning and needs assessment, inservice training of library personnel, library materials (including books, journals, electronic resources, and equipment), library supplies, telecommunication services and equipment, and fees for participation in networks and consortia that provide the library with direct services.
The Technical Assistance grants are intended to heighten the level of professional proficiency for library staff of an established library. These small noncompetitive grants provide support for a professional assessment of the effectiveness of library operations that may include staffing, financial management, types and levels of services, and collections development and management. An assessment of specialized operations may relate to: establishing or enhancing electronic linkages among or between libraries; electronically linking libraries with educational, social, or information services; targeting library and information services to persons having difficulty using a library and to underserved urban and rural communities, including children (from birth through age 17) from families with incomes below the poverty line.
The Enhancement grants support activities to advance the applicant library's operations to new levels of service for activities identified in the Library Services and Technology Act. The grants are competitive and are intended to encourage the implementation of both mainstream and innovative library practices. Projects may relate to: assisting libraries in accessing information through electronic networks; encouraging libraries in different areas and of various types to establish consortia and share resources; and paying costs for libraries to acquire or share computer systems and telecommunications technologies. To be eligible for an Enhancement grant, the tribe or village must be receiving a Basic Library Services grant in the same fiscal year.
There is no set application deadline; grants begin October 1, 1998.
Application guidelines are available by contacting the Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20506, (202) 606-5227-voice, (202) 606-8636-TTY. A cassette copy is also available.
E-mail: imsinfo@imls.fed.us
Website: http://www.imls.fed.us/guidelines/nalser.html
A Native Hawaiian Library Services grant is available to organizations that primarily serve and represent Native Hawaiians to support library services to the Native Hawaiian community. They may be used to enhance existing library services or to implement new library services, particularly as they relate to: establishing or enhancing electronic linkages among or between libraries; electronically linking libraries with educational, social, or information services; assisting libraries in accessing information through electronic networks; encouraging libraries in different areas and of various types to establish consortia and share resources; paying costs for libraries to acquire or share computer systems and telecommunications technologies; and targeting library and information services to persons having difficulty using a library and to underserved urban and rural communities, including children (from birth through age 17) from families with incomes below the poverty line.
A portion of LSTA appropriations for library services to Native Americans is to be used for services to Native Hawaiians.
There is no set application deadline. Funds must be expended within the one-year grant period which begins Oct. 1, 1998, and ends Sept. 30, 1999.
Application guidelines are available by contacting the Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20506, (202) 606-5227-voice, (202) 606-8636-TTY.
Website: http://www.imls.fed.us/guidelines/nhsler.html
The American Indian Library Association (AILA) will present a one-day conference "American Indian Issues and Resources: Tribal Views and Federal Sources " on Friday June 26, 1998, in Washington, D.C., prior to the American Library Association's annual convention. Advance registration is required. They will also hold their business meeting during the conference on Sunday, June 28, from 8:00-10:00 p.m. For further information see the AILA website.
Website: http://www.pit.edu/lmitten/aila
During the National Conference of Librarians Serving Blind and Physically Handicapped Individuals in Burlington,Vermont, May 2-7, 1998, there will be a "Focus on Native Americans" breakfast colloquy, May 7, 8:15 to 9:00 a.m. in the Adirondack Ballroom. Dan Boyd, regional librarian of the South Dakota Braille and Talking Book Library, will be the moderator.
Updated December 27, 2002
