Grant Opportunities

The State Library of Ohio is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for Ohio libraries to apply for grant funds to build or expand a collection of books receiving honors and awards in Ohio and by Ohio authors.  Since 2016, the State Library of Ohio has awarded LSTA funds to support Celebrating Ohio Book Awards & Authors (COBAA) to provide funds specifically for collection development purposes. The grant application is a required online application. The grant award is a maximum of $2000 per eligible institution.  COBAA grant proposals must be submitted via the State Library website by midnight, January 15, 2021.
 
The awarded federal funds may be used to purchase copies of the selected title(s). The 2021 COBAA Book List  is a listing of over 1,800 eligible titles including those nominated and awarded the Ohioana Book Awards, Buckeye Children's and Teen Book Award, James Cook Book Award, Dayton Literary Peace Prize, The Anisfield-Wolf Award, Thurber Prize for American Humor, and Norman A. Sugarman Children's Biography Award. Also included are all Choose to Read Ohio  and Floyd’s Pick selections to date.
 
Click here for more Information, materials, and application.  Questions may be addressed to Cindy Boyden at cboyden@library.ohio.gov, lsta@library.ohio.gov or 800-686-1532.


The American Library Association (ALA) invites library workers to apply for the Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant, an annual grant supporting innovative and meaningful community engagement efforts in libraries.
 
Applications will be accepted between Dec. 1, 2020, and Feb. 5, 2021. View the full award guidelines and apply online at www.ala.org/LTCEG.
 
The Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant recognizes, promotes and supports innovative and meaningful community engagement efforts in libraries. It provides $2,000 for a school, public, academic, tribal or special library to expand its community engagement efforts.

Each year, the grant focuses on supporting a community engagement project with a specific theme. For the 2020–2021 cycle, libraries are invited to submit applications for a community engagement project that focuses on anti-racism. Visit the grant guidelines for resources on anti-racist theory and practices.

Libraries are invited to apply by designing and outlining activities for a library-led community engagement project. Community engagement is the process of working collaboratively with community members – be they library patrons, residents, faculty, students, or local organizations – to address issues for the betterment of the community.

Project activities to be covered by the grant may include developing community engagement programs and services; partnering with a community agency that builds the capacity of the community to address an important concern/issue; or creating a program or event that connects the library to a community-identified aspiration or concern.
>>> Read about Milwaukee Public Library's Wisconsin Deaf Storyslam, winner of the 2020 Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant. <<<
 
The Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant is part of Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC), ALA’s community engagement initiative. Since 2014, LTC has reimagined the role libraries play in supporting communities. Libraries of all types, from across the country, have utilized the free dialogue and deliberation training and resources to lead community and campus forums; take part in anti-violence activities; provide a safe space for residents to come together to discuss challenging topics; and have productive conversations with civic leaders, library trustees and staff.