Announcement and Guidelines: 2009-2011

Projects for 2009-2011
Application Deadline: June 19, 2009

The New York State Library announces a 2009-2011 grant program to help public libraries and public library systems develop or expand adult literacy library services in collaboration with a local literacy provider.

The Adult Literacy Library Services Grant program is a State funded, competitive grant program providing up to $200,000 each in years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 for adult literacy library projects. The funds for 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 will be determined in the State budget, which is scheduled to be adopted by March 31 of each year. The grant cycle will run from July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2011.

Applicants must be public libraries or public library systems only. Applicants must collaborate with at least one partner from the community’s literacy providers, such as: schools, colleges, volunteer groups or other not-for-profit recognized literacy providers. Letters of Support from partner organizations are welcome and are to be submitted as attachments to the online application.

New for 2009-2011

Online Application

The application process for the 2009-2011 Adult Literacy program is now online.  Applicants and those interested in the program must obtain a user name and password in order to access the application. If you have your user name and password, you may go directly to the Application (opens in a new window).

The application must be submitted online and the following documents are submitted in paper format with original signatures:

  1. Cover page—requires original signature of applicant (library or system) director. Submit two, each with original signatures in blue ink.
  2. Board certification—requires original signature of applicant board president (library or system). Submit two, each with original signatures in blue ink.
  3. Budget forms: Form FS-10 as part of the application. Later in the cycle Form FS-10A (if any amendments are necessary) and Form FS-10F (final budget). Submit three forms, each with original signature in blue ink.

Please note the following:

  1. The project cycle will cover aperiod through June 30, 2011. The official project start date is July 1, 2009.
  2. Each application will require submission of FS-10 Budget forms – three copies, each with an original signature, for FY 2009-10 and three copies for FY 2010-11. Unexpended funds from 2009-10 cannot be used in FY 2010-11.
  3. Projects must serve adults age 16 or older who are not attending school full-time.
  4. Projects emphasize literacy skills; i.e., minimum skills needed to read and comprehend English through the 6th grade level, or who are working toward their GED.
  5. Projects must be jointly planned and coordinated with an organization that provides literacy instruction to adults.

Project Purpose:

  • Assist adults to become literate through library-based programs.
  • Help libraries to become literacy providers when needed in their communities.
  • Strengthen cooperation among local literacy providers with the public library as a key partner.
  • Improve workforce preparation. The skills needed for employment such as literacy and self-sufficiency are recognized as essential components of the Federal Workforce Investment Act. Adult Literacy grants seek to make libraries part of the network that helps underemployed and unemployed workers with their literacy needs.
  • Bring nonusers into the library through literacy programming.

Past Project Topics

  • English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) classes
  • Basic adult literacy classes and supporting materials
  • Training for adult education professionals and volunteers
  • Computer literacy for basic life skills
  • General equivalency diploma (GED) tutorials
  • Literacy skills classes for learning disabled adults
  • US Citizenship exam preparation

For program ideas, see reports on previously funded Adult Literacy Library Services projects.

What Can Be Funded?

  • Partnership expansions and projects that establish a new collaboration are encouraged
  • Collection development that supports enhanced adult literacy services
  • Projects that encourage adult literacy students and their families to become lifelong library users     
  • Library literacy-related materials
  • Project equipment
  • Project personnel
  • Supplies
  • Contracts for services, e.g. planning, publications, project assistance
  • Evaluation and publication of a report for project replication
  • Other purposes directly related to project's success

Grant Funds May Not Be Used

  • To replace funds for existing programs or staff.
  • For building modification, construction.
  • For overhead and administrative costs.

Two-Year Projects

  • The first year will include such activities as: partnership development, coordination, start-up activities, developing evaluation tools and beginning of project activities. The second year continues implementation, builds on first year results and evaluates results of the entire project.
  • The application narrative, budget narrative and the timeline must show project plans for both years.
  • Grant funds are awarded annually as required by law and the maximum amount for annual awards is $20,000 per year. The minimum request is $10,000 per year.

Reporting

  • Project Directors are required to respond to periodic e-mail questionnaires on the grant's progress, changes and any problems throughout the grant year.  Any changes in project director or key staff must be reported immediately to the Adult Literacy Library Services Program Coordinator at the State Library.
  • An Interim Report is required in April of 2010 covering the initial months of the project. After submission and approval of the Interim Report, 90% payment for Year Two of the project can be released.
  • A Final Narrative Report and a Final Expenditure Form (FS10-F) will be required at the end of each fiscal year.
    1. for the period July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2010 (due July 31, 2010)
    2. for the period July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011 (due July 31, 2011)

Who Can Apply?

  • Public and association libraries that are members of a public library system
  • Public library systems

How Much May Be Requested?

  • The minimum amount that may be requested is $10,000 per year.
  • The maximum amount that may be requested is $20,000 per year.

Project Evaluation

Adult Literacy Library Services projects will demonstrate that the program is effective in meeting the needs of adults 16 and older who need basic literacy services.

Each Adult Literacy Library Services project must have an outcome-based plan for evaluation in place at the beginning of the project so those involved in the activities will know how to gather data to assess the results. The plan must be described in the application and evaluation activities must be included in the project timeline.

The applicant and partners should focus on desired results for the users of the project services or products.  The evaluation plan will answer at least two questions:

  • "How will the library know the project is successful or achieves the desired results for the users?"
  • "What will the library measure to help determine the project’s success?”

Applicants must choose measures that document both outputs and outcomes.

  • Outputs are a direct program product such as number of workshops given, number of participants served, and types of materials developed.  Outputs are typically measured in numbers because they are basically quantitative.
  • Outcomes show changes in the target audience's skills, attitudes, knowledge, behavior or status as a result of the activities of the project.  Measuring outcomes requires project planners to focus on the desired change for the participants and plan for how best to measure that change.  

More information on outcome-based evaluation measures.

Publications and Other Products

By completing and submitting the application, the applicant agrees to the following requirement:

All products, regardless of format or method of distribution and including Internet websites, which are created totally or in part under Adult Literacy Library Services grant/contract, must include the following acknowledgement:

"This publication (product) was supported by (or "in part by") funds from the New York State Library’s Adult Literacy Library Services grant program."

In addition, flyers and other announcements of library programs and services must carry an acknowledgement such as the following:

"Supported by (or "in part by") funds from the New York State Library’s Adult Literacy Library Services grant program."

Project directors are responsible for conveying this information to all partners and participants.

Evaluation Criteria and Award Methodology

Each application will be scored and rated individually by at least two reviewers (who may be from outside the State Education Department) according to the points indicated in the Application questions and noted below.  When all review forms have been submitted, State Library staff will produce a list of applications in order by average score and a list in order by average rating (see below for a definition of score and rating). 

The State Library staff may ask for a meeting of reviewers to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of applications.  If, after that meeting, individual reviewers change their scoring or rating of specific applications, the State Library will collect that information and will rank in order by average score and average rating. An application must receive a final average score of at least 60 to be considered for funding. 

Funds will be allocated first to applicants with the highest score, then to applicants with the next highest score, then to other applicants in succeeding order (highest to lowest). Applicants will receive funding for the maximum amount of their allowable budget until funding runs out.

If there is a tie between the scores of two or more applications AND there is insufficient funding for all the applications at that score, then the application with the higher average rating will be used to break the tie. The applicant with the higher average rating will receive funding up to the higher of (a) funds remaining in the State Literacy program (as long as the State Library determines that a viable grant project can be operated for that amount of funding) or (b) the maximum amount of the allowable budget.

After the award allocation has been completed, a recommended list of awards will go to the Coordinator of Statewide Library Services for review and then to the State Librarian for final approval. Following the State Librarian’s approval, the awards will be forwarded to the State Education Department’s Grants Finance office for payment.

Definitions

Score: Each question in the grant application is worth an assigned number of points. Using a review form, each reviewer scores each application. The maximum score is 100.

Average score is the average of the reviewers’ scores.

Rating: After scoring each application, each reviewer gives the application an overall rating using the following scale:
Highly Recommended 9 or 10 points;
Recommended 6, 7, or 8 points;
Not Recommended 2, 3, 4, or 5 points;
Not Eligible 1 point.

Average rating is the average of the reviewers’ ratings.

Narrative questions have the following points assigned: Scoring Total -- 100 points

Question

Section of the Narrative

Points

1

Abstract

5

2

Planning/ Need/ Target Audience/ Collaboration

20

3

Project Description

25

4

Evaluation/ Outcomes

20

5

Continuation and Statewide Dissemination of Results

10

6

Budget Narrative

20

 

Total

100

Payment Schedule

For Year One, the first payment of 90% will be released when the FS-10 Budget Form has been processed.  The final 10% will be paid upon receipt and approval of the Final Narrative Report and the (FS-10-F) Final Expenditure form at the end of Year One.  For Year Two, the first payment of 90% will be released after the Interim Report is approved.  The final 10% for Year Two will be paid upon receipt and approval of the Final Narrative Report and Final Budget Expenditure.

NOTE: The actual payment schedule and final amounts available for the Adult Literacy Library Services Program grants depends on passage of the New York State budget and the final allocations made by the New York State Legislature.

Timeline

Task

Date/Time

Deadline for submission of applications

Submitted online to the Division of Library Development by 5:00 p.m. on June 19, 2009

Evaluation and review period

Ends July 31, 2009

Approval of awards by State Librarian

By August 7, 2009

Approved awards forwarded to SED Grants Finance

By August 14, 2009

Applicants notified of grant awards

on or after August 21, 2009

Deadline for Application Submission

  • Submit online: completed applications must be submitted online by 5 p.m. on Friday, June 19, 2009. NOTE: Applications must be submitted through the online system – no other form of submission will be accepted.
  • Items to submit in paper format by 5:00 pm on Friday, June 19, 2009 : 1) Cover page (two with original signatures; 2) Board Certification (two with original signatures) and 3) Three copies of Form FS-10 with original signatures in blue ink by U.S. mail or another carrier. These items may be printed from the online application.
  • Mail to: Tiffany Allen, New York State Library, Division of Library Development, Albany, NY 12230

To Apply:

Questions:

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Last Updated: May 20, 2009 -- asm