Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is eligible?
- To apply for the grant: A public or association library and public library systems
- To participate in a project resulting from this grant: Any adult ages 16 and over who is in need of literacy instruction/assistance and is not enrolled in school
A library or library system can apply for an Adult Literacy Library Services program grant if the project includes direct work with a literacy provider such as a Literacy Volunteers office or a School or BOCES that offers adult (ages 16 and over and not enrolled in school) literacy instruction.
2. Are member libraries considered partners?
NO, a system or a library would need a literacy provider as a partner. The libraries participating could all have the same literacy provider but there must be one partner in the program that is an actual provider/teacher. The library or system can use the grant funds to pay for the services of a literacy provider.
3. If a library applies for the Family Literacy Library Grant, can the same library also apply for the Adult Literacy Grant?
YES. A library may submit one application for an Adult Library Literacy Grant and a different application for the Family Literacy Grant. Be sure that each application meets that program's guidelines.
4. Can passwords be shared between Adult Literacy Program and Family Literacy Program?
YES, if your library or system already has user names and passwords for Family Literacy, you can use the same for Adult Literacy.
5. Are organizations or educational institutions that provide literacy services eligible to submit Family Literacy Library Services Grant applications?
No. Only public and association libraries that are members of a public library system, or public library systems may submit applications.
6. Since these may involve partnerships with literacy providers, cultural or educational organizations and libraries/library systems, whose board signs the Board Certification?
The Family Literacy Library Services Program grant awards are made to public/association libraries and public library systems. Although the Family Literacy project application may include one or more project partners, the grant is made to the library or library system, not to any partner. Therefore the library or system board which has submitted the application signs the Board Certification.
7. Can a public library system and one or more public/association libraries within the system each submit a Family Literacy Library Services Program application? Is there a limit to the amount they can request?
A library system and all libraries within the system may submit individual applications. Each applicant may apply for up to the maximum grant amount of $50,000 per year.
8. Is equipment that helps to provide family literacy services an allowable cost?
Equipment purchased in support of a project is an eligible expense. If the unit cost is $5,000 or more, it is itemized in the Equipment budget category. If the unit cost is less than $5,000, it is itemized under Supplies and Materials. For equipment over $1,000, vendor quotes must be attached.
9. When are vendor quotes required?
When requesting funding for a contracted service and when the unit cost of equipment exceeds $1,000, the project budget must have vendor quotes attached.
10. How does an applicant decide which budget category to use for project personnel?
If the project personnel will be paid through the applicant’s payroll, the payment amount is entered into Code 15, Salaries for Professional Staff. If the person will be an independent contractor, or will be paid on a per diem basis, the amount is entered in Code 40, Purchased Services.
11. May an applicant request grant funds for current full-time staff who will work in the proposed family literacy program? What if the staff is currently part-time and the project will require increased hours?
Grant funds MAY NOT be used to replace payroll funds for existing staff. Grant funds MAY be used to add staff or increase hours of current staff in order to deliver proposed services. Enter the amount under Budget Code 15: Salaries for Professional Staff and describe how the positions identified will support the project activities and contribute to program goals.
12. May library or system overhead and administrative costs that are already part of library operations be paid for through a Family Literacy Library Services grant?
These costs are not eligible for funding through this program.
13. My library or system board is not meeting again until after the March 15 deadline. Does the Board Certification have to be submitted with the application or may it be submitted later?
If necessary, you may submit the Board Certification during April if: 1) you submit a statement with the application as to the board's next meeting date and 2) let us know that the certification will be submitted during April.
14. May an applicant purchase services from a collaborating (partner) agency to support the project activities?
Yes. The applicant may contract with the agency to deliver services that support project activities. Contract cost is entered in Budget Code 40: Purchased Services.
15. If our library needs to make changes in our building to accommodate the family literacy project, will the grant fund associated construction costs?
The grant will not fund construction costs. However, supplies, materials and equipment that are needed in the new area to provide project services are eligible for funding.
16. Our project includes the purchase of computers. Do we need to worry about filtering and CIPA (Children’s Internet Protection Act)?
Filtering of computers in public libraries is not required by New York State Education Law. Education Law § 260(12) does require that public libraries establish policies concerning patron use of public access computer terminals. Any public library that offers public computing should already have such a policy in place. Federal CIPA requirements do not apply to these projects.
17. In the sample project narrative, Section II: Need, Target Audience, Collaboration parts b)Long range Plan and c) Library Programming are not explained. What information needs to be in those sections?
The full text of parts b and c is: b) Long Range Plan: Explain how the project relates to the system's Plan of Service and Library's long-range plan (5 points). c) How will the project improve of current library programming? (5 points)
18. We have a question regarding the partnership requirement, which states that the library applicant must partner with a local literacy provider. When a library is already a literacy provider itself, is the library able to serve as the literacy provider for a proposed project (with support from a community-based partner), or would our partner be required to deliver the literacy services?
When the library is an adult literacy provider it may serve as the local literacy provider for the grant application. Support from a community-based partner will result in the application receiving reviewer's points in Section II under collaboration.
19. Please explain the FS-20 budget forms and accompanying narratives.
Each application requires submission of Two FS-20 budget forms - one for FY2007-08 and one for FY 2008-09. Each FS-20 form must be accompanied by a set of "budget category and narrative forms." Only submit narrative forms for the categories with expenses.
You may want to write the FY at the top of each "budget category and narrative form" submitted to prevent mix-ups of years.
20. May grant funds be used for give-away items including books for children/families who participate in the project activities?
No, grant funds may not be used for this purpose. Giving books away to children and families is a part of some projects and funding for these must come from other sources.
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