Library Enhancement Grant

Eligibility. This grant is open to public, tribal and special libraries in Idaho. One application/award per library legal entity.

One application/award per library legal entity per grant cycle.

The applicant/grantee is the public-serving library, no direct reimbursement to library employees is allowed.

Director or Board approval must be secured prior to submitting the application.

For definitions of library types, and eligibility, see ICfL’s grant eligibility requirements at https://libraries.idaho.gov/grants-funding/grant-eligibility/.

Award Summary. Libraries may apply for awards of $500 to $3,000. The grant aims to address an identified community need and enhance the library’s ability to provide accessible and relevant services, programs, and collections. Funding will provide additional resources to support needs that would otherwise be difficult to meet within the library’s current budget.

Required Activities. The library agrees to:

1. Align grant projects with at least one of the goals from the Idaho Commission for Libraries Five-Year State Plan 2023-27
2. Attend an orientation webinar with other grant recipients.
3. Complete projects that develop or enhance programs and services to address a specific issue or meet an identified community need.
4. Evaluate the impact of the project.
5. Costs must have an educational component.
6. Not use grant funds for existing operational expenses. No supplanting.

Allowable Expenditures. A grantee may only use program funds for allowable costs, which includes the requirement that costs be reasonable and necessary for the accomplishment of program objectives.

The following is an abbreviated list of allowable grant expenses. It is not intended to be exhaustive or exclusive. [Link to allowable/non-allowable list on webpage] Applicants should contact the ICfL if they are unsure if their proposed idea/expenditure is allowable.

1. Compensation including salaries and wages for staff involved in planning and providing services related to Library Enhancement Grant activities. This is intended to support the library with additional salary funds needed to expand services or complete project objectives and not replace existing salaries.
2. Materials and supplies to implement the grant program.
3. Equipment used for Library Enhancement Grant purposes. Equipment includes property (and information technology systems) having a useful life of more than one year and a per-unit acquisition cost of $10,000 or more. Equipment must be pre-approved in writing by the ICfL.
4. Professional and consultant services such as those for translation, tutoring, guest speakers or facilitators, asset mapping, or community partner programming.
5. Services. Grant funds may only be used to pay for services provided during the official grant period.
6. Advertising or publicity specifically related to the grant such as publishing dates and times of program/activities. No more than 10% may be spent on advertising and publicity.

Non-Allowable Expenditures. The following is an abbreviated list of non-allowable grant expenses. It is not intended to be exhaustive or exclusive. [Link to allowable list on webpage] Applicants should contact the ICfL if they are unsure if a cost is allowable. The following items are not allowable grant expenses:

1. Food and beverages. Food is allowable if used primarily as a supply in a learning activity.
2. Capital expenditures related to the purchase of real property, buildings, or motor vehicles.
3. Construction expenditures related to the improvement or expansion of buildings and facilities.
4. Advertising or publicity not related directly to the programs carried out through the grant.
5. Promotional items and memorabilia, including models, gifts, and souvenirs.
6. General purpose supplies and materials including technology, which is not specifically intended to serve the library community. Assistive technology and equipment are allowable, if it is necessary for executing the grant project.
7. Costs of entertainment, including amusement, diversion, and social activities and any associated costs are unallowable, except where specific costs that might otherwise be considered entertainment have a programmatic purpose, which is library specific, and are pre-approved in the grant application/agreement budget.

Reporting Requirements. The library agrees to:

Document grant expenditures through receipts, payroll reports, and accounting system reports. Spending documentation must be submitted with the final report. Grant funds must be fully expended by the end of the grant period in accordance with all grant requirements. If a grantee anticipates that grant funds will be unspent by the end of the grant period, they must contact the Idaho Commission for Libraries’ grant program lead as soon as possible to develop and implement a plan to fully expend the remaining funds before the end of the grant period. While the return of unspent funds remains an option, it is strongly discouraged. Failure to fully expend grant funds may be considered in future funding decisions.

Records Retention.The grantee must retain grant records for a period of three years following the end of the award period. Records include the grant application/agreement, award letter, correspondence, reports, financial records, and receipts.

Acknowledgement. This grant is administered by the Idaho Commission for Libraries (ICfL) and is made possible with funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), award number LS-260819-OLS-26, Assistance Listing Number 45.310 State Library Program. Please acknowledge the IMLS and ICfL in signage, brochures, websites, press releases, and public events funded by or describing this grant program. The funding for this grant is authorized by the Library Services and Technology Act, as amended (LSTA) (20 U.S.C. § 9101 et seq.). These funds are governed by the purposes and priorities set forth by the US Congress, in conjunction with the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Uniform Guidance (2 C.F.R. 200).

The ICfL plans to disburse funds to awarded libraries at the beginning of the grant period. A check will be mailed from the State of Idaho to the W-9 address on file. An organization may choose to sign up for electronic deposits by contacting the ICfL.

Grant funds must be fully expended by the end of the grant period in accordance with all grant requirements. If a grantee anticipates that grant funds will be unspent by the end of the grant period, they must contact the Idaho Commission for Libraries’ grant program lead as soon as possible to develop and implement a plan to fully expend the remaining funds before the end of the grant period. While the return of unspent funds remains an option, it is strongly discouraged. Failure to fully expend grant funds may be considered in future funding decisions.