State Education Department Grants Available to Help New York's Libraries Improve Access to Information
Each year, public, academic and special libraries and library systems obtain grants from the New York State Library that help them achieve goals important to serving their customers.
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Adult Literacy Services Grants
Public libraries and public library systems play a critical role in the development and provision of community literacy services. Some libraries are direct providers of literacy services; others work in partnership with agencies such as Literacy Volunteers (Literacy New York), BOCES and other community organizations. Most New York State public libraries provide literacy and GED (General Equivalency Diploma) collections and computers to support adult learners. The goals of New York State's Adult Literacy Library Services grants are to increase adult literacy on the job and in the home, encourage libraries to become community literacy leaders, and strengthen cooperation among local literacy providers.
The grants operate on a two-year cycle, with the current cycle running July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2013.
Funds Available: Education Law provides $200,000 for each year. Actual amount available for grants will depend on appropriations made by the New York State Legislature.
Tentative Deadline for 2013-2015 Project Applications: December 15, 2012.
SEE: New York State Education Law, § 273 1 h (2), and Commissioner's Regulations 90.3 (n).
For more information: Contact Cassandra Artale, Adult Literacy Grants Program Officer, at (518) 474-1479 or via e-mail; or visit the Adult Literacy Services Grants page.
Family Literacy Services Grants
The New York State Family Literacy Library Services grant program helps public libraries and public library systems offer early learning and literacy materials and services to children and their families or caregivers. Preschool, after-school, weekend and summer library learning programs partner with museums, public television, historical societies, environmental centers, schools and other libraries to enrich and expand the educational opportunities presented to children and parents.
The grants operate on a two-year cycle, with the current cycle running July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2013.
Funds Available: Education Law provides $300,000 for each year. Actual amount available for grants will depend on appropriations determined by the New York State Legislature.
Tentative Deadline for 2013-2015 Project Applications: December 15, 2012.
SEE: New York State Education Law, § 273 1 h (3), and Commissioner's Regulations 90.3 (m).
For more information: Contact Cassandra Artale, Family Literacy Services Program Officer, at (518) 474-1479 or via e-mail; or visit the Family Literacy Services page at our web site.
Public Library Construction Grant Program
Through the Public Library Construction Grants Program, public libraries across the state are provided with up to 50% of the approved costs of acquiring, constructing, renovating, or rehabilitating public library buildings. Awards have assisted public libraries to become A.D.A. compliant, install “green” technologies such as solar panels and geothermal heating systems, as well as expanding current buildings with new children and teen areas, computer training labs and community meeting spaces.
SEE: New York State Education Law, § 273-a, and Commissioner's Regulations 90.12.
Funds available: appropriation of $14 million in capital funds for public library construction in the 2010 State Budget.
Tentative Application Deadline for 2011-2014 Projects: early October 2011.For more information: Contact Mary Linda Todd, (518) 486-4858; or visit the Public Library Construction Grant Program page.
Conservation/Preservation Grants
As part of the statewide program for conservation and preservation of endangered research library materials, the State Library provides grants to libraries, archives, historical societies and similar agencies for projects to preserve important, deteriorating library research materials.
The grants, of up to $40,000, support projects for the protection, care and treatment of library materials valuable to New York State, preventing loss of their informational or intellectual content and/or the objects themselves through such activities as evaluating condition of collection and making a preservation plan; environmental control; disaster prevention, preparedness and recovery; preparation of library materials for storage; cleaning, repairing, maintaining collection materials; screening items for preservation; reformatting to microform, tape or photocopying; cleaning, deacidification; and staff training and patron awareness programs.
Funds available: Education Law provides $500,000 for each year. Actual amount available for grants depends on the appropriation by the New York State Legislature.
Application Deadline for 2012-2013 Projects: December 2, 2011.SEE: Education Law, Section 273.7(d)
For more information: Contact Barbara Lilley, Conservation/Preservation Grants Program Officer, at (518) 474-7890 or via e-mail, or visit the Conservation/Preservation Program page.
Library Services and Technology Act Grants
The Federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Grants Program in New York State is based on the four major goals of the LSTA Five-Year Plan (FY2008-2012), as approved by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The LSTA goals are closely linked to the recommendations issued in 2000 by the New York State Regents Commission on Library Services. The four goals are:
- All New Yorkers will have reliable, electronic access to high-quality information resources through the expansion of NOVELny and through enhancement of libraries’ technology capabilities to meet users’ information needs.
- All New Yorkers will have improved access to library resources and services that advance and enhance their personal, educational and working lives.
- The New York State Library, library systems and libraries will deliver new and improved programs that anticipate and meet New Yorkers’ constantly changing needs for library services.
- The New York State Library, library systems, libraries and library organizations will strengthen public policy support for upgrading library services for every New Yorker through improved communication, collaboration and partnership efforts within and beyond the library community.
The LSTA Grants Program is currently funding a one-year Invitational Grant Program focused on assisting library systems to help their member libraries improve library services for their customers and to implement the New York State Library’s 2007-2012 Five-Year Plan.
Funds Available: Grant allotment will be $800,000 for the period April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013.
Application Deadline for 2012-2013 Projects: Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Prior Years' Projects: see the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Grant Program page.
For more information: Contact Linda Todd, LSTA Coordinator, at (518) 486-4858 or via e-mail, or visit the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Grant Program page.
Information about additional grant opportunities can be found in the State Register. All New York State agencies awarding grants of State or Federal funds are required to publish a Notice of Availability of Funds in the State Register, which is published weekly and sent to all village, town, city and county clerks in the State. Libraries may subscribe for $40 annually. Checks should be made payable to the Department of State and sent to: Department of State, Office of Public Affairs, Information Services, 162 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12231.