Author: LynnDell Watson

LynnDell is a Teacher Librarian at Delta High School, Millard School District. She was asked to be the grant liaison for UELMA because she's received grants from several different sources during her time as a librarian.

2024 Jason Reynolds/Simon & Schuster Travel Grant Application Now Open

LynnDell Watson

The grant will cover the expenses of five (5) Black/African American youth or teen services librarians or school librarians/media specialists who work in either public or school libraries. 

Recipients will receive up to $3000 (and not less than $1500) to pay for expenses related to attending the ALA Annual Conference including but not limited to travel, housing, registration, and a ticket to the Coretta Scott King Award Breakfast.

  • Applications will be accepted from September 1 – December 1, 2023.
  • Five (5) winners will be selected, with an announcement to be made in February 2024 of the selected recipients.
  • The recipients will also be acknowledged at the 2024 ALA Annual Conference in San Diego, Calif. during the Coretta Scott King Awards Breakfast.

Apply Now.

The grants are funded through a generous donation provided by Simon & Schuster, Inc. and administered by the ALA Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR).

For details regarding the selection criteria and/or more information visit the grant’s webpage. 

Emerging Technology Grant – LSTA funds provided by IMLS

LynnDell Watson

To apply for the 2023 Emerging Technology Grant, go to this link: https://cce.my.salesforce-sites.com/usl/ You must use your login information (or create login information) to open the USLS Grants Portal.

  • Click on Funding Opportunities at the top of the page.
  • Click on 2023 Emerging Technology (AI) Grant.

Schedule of Grant:

  • 9/11/2023 – Grant opens
  • 9/22/2023 – Grant closes
  • 9/26/2023 – Recipients notified, contracts sent
  • 10/2/2023 – Contracts due, grant spending begins
  • October 2023 – Virtual training
  • 9/30/2024 – Grant spending ends
  • 10/15/2024 – Reimbursements and final report due

Emerging Technology grants of up to $1,000 are available to public and school libraries who do not currently have subscriptions to AI tools. Ten school and ten public libraries will be selected for this grant for an annual subscription to five AI tools for patron use in the library. The types of AI tools to be purchased include a writing, sound, image, and coding tool, plus one additional tool of the library’s choice. 

Good luck!

Now Accepting Proposals for National Leadership Grants for Libraries, Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Programs 

LynnDell Watson

Click on this link: https://www.imls.gov/grants/available/laura-bush-21st-century-librarian-program for information on a grant that will help fund training and continued professional development for library and archives specialists and initiatives that can advance practice and strengthen library and archival services.

If you have general questions, please contact imls-librarygrants@imls.gov.

Applications deadline: September 20, 2023

Grant Program Webinar: We invite you to watch a pre-application webinar to learn more about the program.

Good luck!

LSTA Current Grant Round is Open!

LynnDell Watson

Click here for information, application and webinar on the current grant round. Closing date for grant applications is May 5, 2023. Good luck to all!

Some ideas for grant applications:

Self Checkout stations (iPad and stand)

Library of Things (schools checkout board games, stem activities or?)

Creating STEM/STEAM kits for your school (Ozobots, Beebots, etc)

Greenscreen, podcasting

Author visits, Book Clubs

Boosting Early Literacy (could be in library for K-3 and SpEd)

Student backpacks to check out with activities

Check out the past grants here for more ideas and ask, “What do my students need”?