Current Grant Cycles

iPad Tablet Training Lab Grant

The iPad Tablet Training Lab Grant opens June 3, 2013.

Connecting Libraries through Resource Sharing 2013

The purpose of the Connecting Libraries through Resource Sharing (CLRS) grant cycle is to provide grant funds for collection development with materials that are rotated between partnering libraries. This is to encourage cooperation among public libraries in counties, or those with contiguous borders, where inter-local agreements to rotate material collections do not exist, or did not exist before participation in a previous CLRS grant cycle. A partnership must include two or more public libraries; one library will act as the lead library in both the application and, if awarded, grant implementation.

Overall funding to support the 2013 CLRS grant cycle is $8,235. The funds will be awarded equally among partners with a maximum award of $715 dollars per library, including $500 for collection development, up to $140 for travel to attend two required meetings, and up to $75 for processing materials. It is anticipated that two or more applicants (partnerships) may receive awards.

Application deadline: Postmarked or hand delivered by 4 p.m. Friday, May 24, 2013.

Download the guidelines and application form in Word or PDF format:

• Grant Guidelines PDF  | Word 
• Grant Application PDF  | Word 
• Intent to Participate letter 
• Library Borrowing Agreement 
• Reciprocal Borrowing - Interlocal Pilot 

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Washington Rural Heritage 2013—CLOSED

Washington Rural Heritage is an initiative that supports small and rural libraries in the development of digital projects that serve historically unique items and collections online.

The purpose of this grant cycle is to provide grant funds to small and rural, public and tribal libraries to encourage the development of long-term sustainable digitization programs at these libraries through the creation of an initial digital collection published as part of the Washington Rural Heritage collection. Collaborative partnerships among libraries, museums, schools, and other community organizations are encouraged, though not required.

Eligible applicants are tribal libraries (as defined in Sec 213 of LSTA) and public libraries or public library systems that serve a population of 25,000 or less, or individual branches that serve in an area whose population is 25,000 or less. A maximum of two branches from one public library system will be considered for an award.

Overall funding to support this grant cycle is $50,000. This grant cycle has a limit of $10,000 per application. It is anticipated that five (5) or more applicants may receive awards.

Funds may be used by libraries to purchase equipment to digitize material (e.g. scanners) or software to optimize digital files (e.g. Photoshop Elements), train staff and/or volunteers to digitize, research and/or catalog items, pay salary of staff and/or contract services to digitize and/or research and catalog items. Funds may not be used to purchase equipment that enables Internet browsing.

Applicants must commit to submission of at least one hundred (100) items to the Washington Rural Heritage collection at the State Library by the end of the grant cycle (August 15, 2014). Items submitted must follow the digitization specifications and metadata best practices outlined by the Washington Rural Heritage initiative. Applicants must consider copyright issues with the projects they develop in conjunction with their grant application.

Unfortunately, due to staffing limits, WSL Project staff members are not able to offer detailed one-on-one consulting on the final application; however, they are available to answer questions from potential applicants in order to help them determine if they should proceed with or adjust their proposal and/or budget before they expend the resources necessary to fully plan the project and prepare a full grant application. WRH staff contact information is found in section #10 of the guidelines. You are encouraged to use this resource when preparing your application.

Application deadline: Postmarked or hand delivered by 4 p.m. Friday, May 3, 2013.

Find out more about the Washington Rural Heritage initiative.

Download the guidelines and application form in Word or PDF format:

• Grant Guidelines PDF  | Word 
• Grant Application PDF  | Word 
• Frequently Asked Questions PDF  | Word 
• Exemplary Applications:
  • 2012 Ritzville Public Library PDF 

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Broadband 2013—CLOSED

The purpose of the 2013 Broadband grant cycle is to provide grant funds allowing public and tribal libraries to upgrade and/or add network hardware and software to take advantage of significantly enhanced broadband connectivity. Applicants must be CIPA compliant. Preference will be given to those libraries participating in a Round One or Two ARRA Broadband (NTIA BTOP) grants awarded to the Northwest Open Access Network (NoaNet) and to those libraries with a service population of under 10,000.

Overall funding to support this grant cycle is $150,000.This grant cycle has a limit of $10,000 per application. It is anticipated that fifteen (15) or more applicants may receive awards.

Application deadline: Postmarked or hand delivered by 4 p.m. Friday, April 12, 2013.

Download the guidelines and application form in Word or PDF format:

• Grant Guidelines PDF  | Word 
• Grant Application PDF  | Word 

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Early Achievers Outreach Partnership—CLOSED

The Early Achievers Outreach Partnership (EAOP) initiative, funded by a Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge grant awarded to the Department of Early Learning (DEL) by the U.S. Department of Education, is designed to:

1. Help local public libraries partner with DEL to build awareness of key early learning initiatives among Washington families;
2. Identify best practices for future partnerships between public libraries and DEL on early learning public awareness and family engagement initiatives.

All public libraries in Washington State organized under RCW 27.12 may apply. Applications may be submitted from a public library or a public library system. WSL reserves the right to limit the number and amount of awards to a public library/public library system in order to ensure that funds are distributed in early learning regions where there are local efforts to increase Early Achievers participation. Up to 50 library mini-grants of no less than $500 and no more than $1,000 per qualifying outlet will be awarded in collaboration with the Early Learning Public Library Partnership (ELPLP). Overall funding to support this grant cycle is $25,000.

NEW Application deadline: Postmarked or hand delivered by 4 p.m. Friday, April 19, 2013.

For more information, contact:

Download the guidelines and application form in Word or PDF format:

• Grant Guidelines PDF  | Word 
• Grant Application PDF  | Word 

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