Grant application for 2023 available February 6

In an effort to build the capacity of a diverse, skilled workforce for the library community, the Idaho Commission for Libraries (ICfL) will provide grants ranging from $1,000 to $1,500 to support an intern for the summer of 2023. The total number of grants awarded will depend on the amounts requested. With this grant, the library, the intern, and the intern’s mentor will collaborate on a project or set of goals and expose the intern to working in a library for several weeks in the summer.   

The library should practice inclusive recruitment techniques to promote and encourage diversity in its intern selection.  Diversity can encompass a wide range of characteristics within any community. For example: economic and income differences; racial and ethnic groups; gender and sexual orientation; primary language spoken at home; disability status and neurodiversity; among other factors. 

In light of continuing health and safety concerns in 2022, libraries are welcome to consider and implement internships with a virtual  component that allows the intern to complete some or all of their work remotely.   

Desired Outcomes

The desired outcomes of the grant are three-fold:

  1. To create and expand the future library workforce by exposing young adults to career opportunities within the field.
  2. To develop and expand the workplace skills of young adults through mentorship and experience.
  3. To provide public library staff with opportunities to practice leadership/mentorship and for libraries to expand their capacity to engage with workforce development in their communities.

Public libraries in Idaho are eligible to apply for this grant (one award per library legal entity).

Successful applicants will be expected to meet the following requirements and expectations:

  • The intern must be between the ages of 16 and 28 years and either in the final two years of high school, early in a post-secondary program (such as college or technical training), or seeking to develop new skills or competencies for the purpose of changing careers.
  • The library must use, to the best of its ability and resources, inclusive recruitment techniques that encourage a diversity of applicants.
  • The library must use grant funds to provide a stipend or hourly wages for each intern. Monies may be used to cover standard payroll expenses associated with the intern, such as Social Security. Funds may not be used on general project expenses, food or capital projects.
  • The library must record and report the total hours worked for each intern and must provide an itemized expense and/or payroll report with the final grant report.
  • The library must provide at least one experienced staff member to serve as the intern’s mentor and must create a plan for a meaningful mentorship experience, including goals and objectives for the internship.
  • The intern and mentor should plan to attend and participate in a series of video conferences hosted by the ICfL throughout the summer. (See “Grant Timeline” and “Additional Information” below for more details.)

In addition to the requirements above, the ICfL strongly recommends that participating libraries incorporate the following elements into their internship program:

  • The work assigned to the intern should be of sufficient quality and relevance to allow the intern to develop new skills and abilities. Where possible, the internship should include completion of a project that allows the intern take ownership of their work.
  • The mentor(s) assigned to the intern should have an interest in developing their own leadership skills and must have the time and capacity to provide guidance and direction to the intern.
  • In creating their mentorship plan, the intern and their mentor should review the intern’s goals and needs, create clear expectations for the project, and check in regularly on progress. The library might consider having the intern complete a brief self-evaluation at the beginning, middle, and conclusion of the internship.
  • Libraries that choose to incorporate a virtual/remote component to their internship should take special care to set clear expectations and create a plan for communication and supervision for work that is done remotely.
  • The internship should include opportunities to learn about library science, program development, community outreach, or other topics relevant to library work.

For grantees selected to receive an award, this grant application will also serve as a contract/grant agreement.  By submitting this application, you affirm you have the authority to successfully execute and deliver on all grant requirements.

By applying for this grant, the Library agrees to comply with the federally mandated assurances enumerated in the Civil Rights Certificate, Debarment/Suspension Certificate, Lobbying Certificate, Uniform Grant Guidance 2 CFR Part 200 -Subpart E, and are compliant with the Idaho Commission for Libraries’ LSTA eligibility requirements – IDAPA 30.01.01 – as they relate to the acceptance and use of funds for this federally-assisted project, including but not limited to, the Library Services and Technology Act and governing regulations.

This program is brought to you by the Idaho Commission for Libraries and was made possible, in part, by the Institute of Museum and Library Services grant number LS-246156-OLS-20.

Applications are scored using the points indicated alongside each question in the grant application. The ranking committee may also take into consideration the geographical distribution of grantees across the state.

Successful applications will (1) directly answer the questions being asked, (2) provide specific information the responses, (3) demonstrate a well-conceived plan of action, and (4) address the desired outcomes for the grant as listed above.

Supporting documentation will also be taken into consideration but is not required. Examples include an intern self-evaluation form, a draft intern interview script, or resume of proposed mentor.

Below is a general timeline for the Summer Intern grant which applicants may find helpful

  • February 6, 2023 – Grant Application and Report Questions Released
  • March 6, 2023 – Applications due to ICfL
  • March 24, 2023 – Applicants notified of award decisions and funding released.
  • Mid April – Orientation meeting with grant recipients (library staff): Tips and tricks for a successful internship & mentorship, review grant logistics and administrative information.
  • April through June– Libraries conduct interviews and hire interns.
  • July 16, 2023 – Interim report due
  • Late July – Cohort meeting for interns – will cover library careers and job skill information. (Aiming for the week of July 26th)
  • September 1, 2023 – Final report and expenditure documentation due.  

Online application opens Feb 6, 2023

  1. The online application must be completed in one sitting and cannot be saved for completion at a later time. We suggest reviewing the questions and drafting responses in a separate document prior to completing the online form.  (The full set of application questions can be viewed in the form prior to completing the application).
  2. Application must be signed and submitted with electronic signatures.
  3. Application must be submitted on or before March 6, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. MT.

If you have questions about the grant application or the application process, please contact either of the following staff members at the Idaho Commission for Libraries:

  • Amelia Valasek, Partnerships and Programs Supervisor, at amelia.valasek@libraries.idaho.gov or at (208) 639-4138.

The following list of resources has been curated with the intention of supporting our Summer Intern libraries as they develop and carry out their internships:  

  • Internship Best Practices for employers (You may also consider exploring the full Chegg Internships website, which has a lot of related information) 
  • Internship Toolkit for employers (download PDF under “Related Content” in the left-hand column) 

Tips for Interns (links to YouTube Videos) 

Grant awardees will complete an interim report on or before July 16, 2023. The form will be available after the application is released. 

The following questions appear on the interim report and have been provided for your use in preparation. We recommend preparing your answers prior to completing the form, as you cannot save your progress.

  1. Name of Public Library  
  2. Preparer’s Name (first and last)  
  3. Tell us a bit about your intern. Who are they? (Age/grade, background, experience, interests, etc) 
  4. What have been the intern’s initial perceptions of library work as they began their internship?   
  5. What type of job skills has the intern identified that they would like to work on?  
  6. Please describe any updates or changes to the intern’s project or workplan since submitting the grant application.  
  7. Are you on track to obligate all funds by the end of August? 
  8. Do you anticipate any issues collecting and reporting information about the interns total hours worked for the final report? If yes, please describe.  

  

Grant awardees will complete their final report on or before September 1, 2023. The report form will be available after the application is released. 

The following questions appear on the final report and have been provided for your use in preparation We recommend preparing your answers prior to completing the form, as you cannot save your progress.

  1. Name of Public Library  
  2. Preparer’s Name (first and last)  
  3. Compared to the intern’s perception of library work at the start of the internship, how has the intern’s perception changed?   
  4. How have the intern’s workplace skills grown or improved as a result of the internship (based on your observations and any self-evaluations from the intern).  
  5. What was the overall outcome of the intern’s project or workplan? What did the intern accomplish?   
  6. In what ways has the library benefitted or grown from this internship experience? For example, has staff developed new leadership skills, deepened partnerships, etc.   
  7. What, if any, setbacks or roadblocks did you encounter and how did you address them? 
  8. What, if any, advice or feedback would you like to provide to either the ICfL or future Summer Intern recipients? (Lesson’s learned, highlights, challenges, suggestions, etc).   
  9. How many total hours did the intern work at your library as part of this program in 2021?  
  10. Itemize how grant monies were invested and provide documentation.