Idaho Commission for Libraries

From the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation website:

"In 2007, the foundation launched a new grant program called Opportunity Online. The program is designed to help the 40 percent of U.S. public libraries still struggling to provide reliable technology services for people with no other access to computers and the Internet."

Congratulations Recipients!

• Stanley Public Library was awarded an Advocacy Grant for use for Teen Gaming
• Ada Community was awarded an Advocacy Grant for a Digital Native Summit
• Boise Basin Library District was awarded an Advocacy Grant for eAudiobooks

You may ask, what about Wave 5? No libraries received funding commitments in Wave 5, but Emmett is the lucky recipient in Wave 6.

The total amount committed to Idaho libraries in Waves 1-6 is $56,599.89.

Want to get in on this but don't know where to start? Give me a call or drop me a line!

Jan Wall
Public Library E-rate Coordinator
Idaho Commission for Libraries

Libraries that received funding commitments for e-rate in Waves 7 and 8 are:

• Kootenai-Shoshone Area Libraries (Wave 7)
• Twin Falls (Wave 7)
• Clarkia (Wave 8)
• Clearwater District (Wave 8)
• Jerome (Wave 8)

The total funding commitment for Idaho libraries in Waves 1-8 is $98,566.80.

Recent Grants awarded:

5/28/2008

• Lewiston City Library — Access for All Seniors Outreach Homebound $1,980.00
• Kootenai Shoshone Lib. — Access for All Seniors Outreach Program Seniors $2,000.00

6/11/2008 - Read to Me State Grants

• Ada Community Library - Star $5,000.00

Two opportunities you might want to look into:

The Barbara Bush Foundation announced the 2009 national grant competition for Family Literacy - Deadline: September 5, 2008

Here are two different grants that may provide an opportunity for your community to preserve its cultural heritage.

Now is the time to submit Form 472 (BEAR, Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement) to get your money for the year that ended June 30, 2008. You have 120 days after the end of service (October 28), or 120 days after receiving a funding commitment, whichever is later, to submit for reimbursement.

Deadline: November 20, 2008

The NEA Foundation in collaboration with the National Education Association is accepting applications for Books Across America Library Books Awards. The program will make awards of $1,000 each to public schools working to provide economically disadvantaged students with new books in their school libraries.

If you've written your tech plan (which is necessary for everything except basic telephone service), or have an approved plan which runs through June 30, 2010 and have filed Form 470, then the next step is Form 471. The application window will open next week at noon EST on December 2 and will close on Feb. 12, 2009 at 11:59 EST.

If you're thinking about participating in Teen Tech Week 2009 (March 8-14, 2009)check out the resources available at:

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/teentechweek/ttw09/home.cfm

Everything from a wiki for sharing ideas, publicity materials, and booklists will make planning and implementing a successful program so much easier.

Congratulations to Coeur d'Alene Public Library, which has been nominated for a National Medal for Museum and Library Service. Democrat Congressman Walt Minnick nominated the library, calling it “a shining example of the great things that happen when a community comes together to work toward a common goal.”

The American Library Association's Office for Literacy and Outreach Services with support from Verizon Communications, is offering grants to public, school, or academic librarians who have found a creative way to connect literacy and gaming. Grants are designed to help librarians expand and further develop innovative literacy gaming services for children and youth between the ages of 10 and 18.

Idaho public libraries have an opportunity to offer a web survey to their patrons to assess the impact public access computing (PAC) has on their lives and on their communities.

The FY 2010 Library Services and Technology Act.(LSTA) Allocation Plan is posted on this website under Funding. This document is a brief overview of Idaho's LSTA grant programs and the Eligibility Checklist provides information for potential applicant libraries to verify their eligibility to apply.