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

Native American Enhancement grants seek to carry out activities that advance the programs and services of Native American libraries. Successful Native American Enhancement grant projects should result in measurable changes and outcomes, such as increased understanding, interest, and confidence among participants. Native American Enhancement grant projects support the following activities:

• Support for individuals’ needs for education, lifelong learning, workforce development, and digital literacy skills
• Improvement of the quality of and access to library and information services
• Enhancement of the skills of the current library workforce and leadership

Native American Enhancement grant projects will align with one of three project categories:

• Preservation and Revitalization – Projects focus on the preservation and revitalization of Native American language and culture through use of efficient and effective strategies and incorporation of strategic partnerships. Activities include preservation of content of unique and specific value to the community, following established best practices and standards.
• Educational Programming – Projects include programs for library patrons and community-based users related to a specific topic or content area through development, implementation, and evaluation of classes, events, tools, resources, and/or other services. Emphasis should be placed on the needs of learners and appropriate teaching and facilitation approaches and curriculum development.
• Digital Services – Projects feature activities dedicated to the establishment and refinement of digital services and programs related to infrastructure, platforms, and technology, in general. Proposals for digitization projects should include plans for preservation of and access to the resulting digital objects and/or implementing digital library tools to provide services to Native American communities.

Amount: Approximately $1,200,000 is available to make 20 awards ranging from $10,000-$150,000 and averaging $132,500 for a period of performance of up to two years.

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:

1. Regularly scheduled hours
2. Staff
3. Materials available for library users

Link: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=322867

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