Institute of Museum and Library Services: Native American Library Services Basic Grant

The Native American Library Services Basic Grants Program supports existing library operations and maintaining core library services. Basic Grants support existing library operations and maintain core library services, particularly as they relate to the following goals:

1. Expanding services for learning and access to information and educational resources in a variety of formats, in all types of libraries, for individuals of all ages in order to support such individuals’ need for education, lifelong learning, workforce development, and digital library skills
2. Establishing or enhancing electronic and other linkages and improved coordination among and between libraries and entities for the purpose of improving the quality of and access to library and information services
3. (a) Providing training and professional development, including continuing education, to enhance the skills of the current library workforce and leadership, and advance the delivery of library and information services; and (b) Enhancing efforts to recruit future professionals to the field of library and information services
4. Developing public and private partnerships with other agencies and community-based organizations
5. Targeting library services to individuals of diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, to individuals with disabilities, and to individuals with limited functional literacy or information skills
6. 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
7. Developing library services that provide all users access to information through local, state, regional, national, and international collaborations and networks
8. Carrying out other activities consistent with the purposes of the Library Services and Technology subchapter of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) statute

Note: This program no longer has a separate Education/Assessment Option. Funding for tribal library staff to attend library-related continuing education courses or training workshops; attend or give presentations at conferences related to library services; and/or hire a consultant for an onsite professional library assessment can be included in the Library Services Plan and the Budget.

Amount: Approximately $2,200,000 is available to make 220 awards ranging from $6,000-$10,000 and averaging $9,200.

No more than $3,000 of the $6,000-$10,000 award may be allotted for education/assessment activities or travel. If an applicant does not include funding for education and assessment activities or travel, a grant request of $6,000-$10,000 may still be requested.

Eligibility: Indian tribes. Entities such as libraries, schools, tribal colleges, or departments of education are not eligible applicants, although they may be involved in the administration of this program and their staff may serve as project directors in partnership with an eligible applicant.

To be eligible for this program applicants must be able to document an existing library that meets, at a minimum, three basic criteria:

• Regularly scheduled hours
• Staff
• Materials available for library users

Link: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=322866

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