Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)

Request Ticket // Limit: 1 (Community-Centered Implementation) // Tickets Available: 1 

Limiting Language
You may submit more than one application to the NLG-L Program; however, you may not submit the same proposal under more than one project type. You may only submit one proposal to the Community-Centered Implementation project type. 

Executive Summary 
National Leadership Grants for Libraries (NLG-L) projects enhance the quality of library services nationwide. The program supports projects that:  

• manage and preserve the national information infrastructure;  
• serve the public’s information and education needs;  
• enhance library and information services through effective and efficient use of new and emerging technologies;  
• improve community prosperity;  
• provide emergency services to communities during disasters and emergencies; and  
• build collaborative partnerships between libraries, archives, and museums that benefit the communities they serve.  

The models, tools, research findings, services, and partnerships resulting from these awards can be widely used, adapted, scaled, or replicated to extend and maximize the benefit of Federal investment to libraries and archives of all sizes. 

Eligibility is restricted to organizations that are: 

• Located in the United States or any U.S. Territories or freely associated States; AND
• A unit of state, local or Tribal government or a private, nonprofit organization; AND
• One of seven types of qualifying organizations:  

1. A library or a parent organization, such as a school district, a municipality, a State agency, or an academic institution, that is responsible for the administration of a library.
2. An academic or administrative unit, such as a graduate school of library and information science that is part of an institution of higher education through which it would apply;
3. A digital library or archives, if it makes materials publicly available and provides library or archival services, including selection, organization, description, reference, and preservation, under the supervision of at least one permanent professional staff librarian/archivist;
4. A library or archival agency that is an official agency of a State, Tribal, or other unit of government and is charged by the law governing it with the extension and development of public library and archives services within its jurisdiction;
5. A library or archives consortium that is a local, statewide, regional, interstate, or international cooperative association of library or archives entities that provides for the systematic and effective coordination of the resources of eligible libraries or archives, as defined above, and information centers that work to improve the services delivered to the clientele of these libraries or archives; or
6. A library or archives association that exists on a permanent basis; primarily serves libraries, archives, or library or archival professionals on a national, regional, state, or local level; and engages in activities designed to advance the well-being of libraries, archives, and the library, and archives professions.
7. A nonprofit organization affiliated with a library or archives whose sole mission includes supporting the specified library or archives, has the ability to administer the project, and can ensure compliance with the terms of this NOFO and the applicable law, including the IMLS Assurances and Certifications. We require that you provide an agreement from the library or archives that details the activities the applicant and library will perform and binds the library to the statements and assurances in the application.   

Request Ticket // Limit: 1 (Community-Centered Implementation) // Tickets Available: 1 

Limiting Language
You may submit more than one application to the LB21 Program; however, you may not submit the same proposal under more than one project type. You may only submit one proposal to the Community-Centered Implementation project type. 

Program Overview
Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian (LB21) projects build a library and archival workforce that can meet the information needs of communities and increase the institutional capacity of libraries, archives, and library and information science graduate programs across the country.  The program supports projects that:  

• provide training and professional development to library and archives professionals;  
• develop faculty and information leaders; and
• recruit, educate, and retain the next generation of library and archives professionals.  

Projects can support the recruitment, education, training, and retention of preprofessionals, students, faculty, and the current library and archives workforce.  

Eligibility is restricted to organizations that are: 

• Located in the United States or any U.S. Territories or freely associated States; AND
• A unit of state, local or Tribal government or a private, nonprofit organization; AND
• One of seven types of qualifying organizations:  

1. A library or a parent organization, such as a school district, a municipality, a State agency, or an academic institution, that is responsible for the administration of a library.
2. An academic or administrative unit, such as a graduate school of library and information science that is part of an institution of higher education through which it would apply;
3. A digital library or archives, if it makes materials publicly available and provides library or archival services, including selection, organization, description, reference, and preservation, under the supervision of at least one permanent professional staff librarian/archivist;
4. A library or archival agency that is an official agency of a State, Tribal, or other unit of government and is charged by the law governing it with the extension and development of public library and archives services within its jurisdiction;
5. A library or archives consortium that is a local, statewide, regional, interstate, or international cooperative association of library or archives entities that provides for the systematic and effective coordination of the resources of eligible libraries or archives, as defined above, and information centers that work to improve the services delivered to the clientele of these libraries or archives; or
6. A library or archives association that exists on a permanent basis; primarily serves libraries, archives, or library or archival professionals on a national, regional, state, or local level; and engages in activities designed to advance the well-being of libraries, archives, and the library, and archives professions.
7. A nonprofit organization affiliated with a library or archives whose sole mission includes supporting the specified library or archives, has the ability to administer the project, and can ensure compliance with the terms of this NOFO and the applicable law, including the IMLS Assurances and Certifications. We require that you provide an agreement from the library or archives that details the activities the applicant and library will perform and binds the library to the statements and assurances in the application.   

No applicants // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1 


UArizona may submit only one application to this opportunity. Independent Components are not eligible to submit separately due to the following language in the solicitation:

Eligibility of Museums Located within a Parent Organization
A museum located within a parent organization that is a State, local, or tribal government or multipurpose nonprofit entity, such as a municipality, university, historical society, foundation, or cultural center, may apply on its own behalf if the museum:

• is able to independently fulfill all the eligibility requirements listed in the above three criteria;
• functions as a discrete unit within the parent organization;
• has its own fully segregated and itemized operating budget; and
• has the authority to make the application on its own.

When any of the last three conditions cannot be met, a museum may only apply through its parent organization.

Proposals to this grant program may continue, enhance, or expand existing programs and services, or they may launch new ones to address emergent needs and unexpected hardships. Reflecting IMLS’s goals of championing lifelong learning, strengthening community engagement, and advancing collections stewardship and access, successful projects for this grant program will:

• Advance digital inclusion through approaches that may include, but are not limited to, improving digital platforms, online services, connectivity (e.g., hotspots), and creating digital literacy programs, as well as creating new processes and procedures needed to sustain a robust online environment.
• Support hiring new staff and training or retraining existing staff to ensure a workforce that has the appropriate knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Build community-focused partnerships, networks, and alliances with organizations with an emphasis on complementing, rather than duplicating, resources and services.
• Support the creation and delivery of online and in-person educational, interpretive, and experiential programs and exhibitions for learners of all ages.
• Provide trusted spaces for community engagement and dialogue to foster recovery and rebuilding.
• Support efforts to collect, preserve, manage, and interpret documentary sources and tangible objects representing all aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic experience.

No applicants.