Grants for School Libraries

by Hall-Ellis, Sylvia D.

• ISBN13: 9781591580799
• ISBN10: 159158079X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-10-30
• Publisher: Libraries Unltd Inc

Summary

This invaluable handbook provides necessary information to help school libraries and school library systems complete the arduous grant-application. The book is current and comprehensive in its listings of possible grants and recommendations for successful grant writing.

Author Biography

SYLVIA D. HALL-ELLIS, Ph.D., teaches at the University of Denver's Library & Information Science Program. She has over 30 years of experience working in libraries, grant writing, project design and management, information systems design and development, strategic planning, nonprofit organization management, and training. A member of a variety of professional organizaions, Dr. Hall-Ellis is listed in several editions of regional and national bibliographic volumes. She has published numerous technical reports, articles, and two monographs, and has conducted major field-based research studies.ANN JERABEK is Head, Interlibraries Services, Sam Houston State University. She has held several professional library positions since coming to the University in 1988 as a Reference Librarian. Prior to her arrival at Sam Houston, she worked at Collin County Community College in McKenney, Texas. Her educational background includes a B.A. in English, an M.A. in religion, and an M.L.S. In addition to publishing in the topic of grants, Ann has also written on needs assessment for library services, library anxiety, and recently published an article on developing and writing job descriptions for positions in interlibrary loans.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Introduction	xi
1-Planning: The Core of Proposal Development	1	(30)
A. Planning Defined	1	(1)
B. The Rationale for Planning	2	(2)
C. Readiness for Planning	4	(4)
1. Historical Commitment toPlanning	5	(1)
2. The Reward System for Staff Contributions	5	(1)
3. Culture and Complexity of the Organization	5	(1)
4. Rate of Growth	6	(1)
5. Financial Resources	6	(1)
6. Ready Reference Handbooks and Tools	6	(1)
7. Access and Availability of Information	7	(1)
8. Willingness to Take Risks	8	(1)
D. General Guidelines for the Pre-Development Planning Process	8	(11)
1. Calculating the Funding Potential	11	(1)
2. Managing Proposal Development	11	(1)
3. Selecting Partner Organizations	11	(8)
E. Calendar Development	19	(3)
F. Planning Meetings	22	(1)
1. Initial Planning Meeting	22	(1)
2. Conceptual Design Meeting	23	(1)
3. Working Meetings	23	(1)
G. Decisions Relating to Proposal Preparation	23	(8)
1. Writing and Editing Issues	24	(3)
2. Document Formatting Issues	27	(4)
2-Project Design	31	(16)
A. The Importance of a Lucid Mission Statement	32	(1)
B. Project Goal Development	32	(2)
C. The Relationship of the Goal and Objectives	34	(2)
D. Conceptual Design of the Project	36	(2)
1. Preliminary Checklists	36	(1)
2. Methodologies	36	(2)
E. The Dynamic Process Underlying Project Design	38	(4)
1. Laying the Groundwork for a Collaborative Effort	38	(1)
2. Steps to Prepare the Project Design	38	(4)
F. Project Management	42	(2)
1. Establishing an Advisory Group	43	(1)
2. Orientation for the Advisory Group	43	(1)
G. Parental Involvement with the Project	44	(3)
3-Project Narrative	47	(20)
A. Proposal Functions	48	(1)
B. Components of the Proposal	48	(15)
Cover Sheet (Face Sheet)	51	(1)
Abstract	51	(1)
Table of Contents	51	(1)
Introduction	51	(1)
Needs Assessment	52	(1)
Goals, Objectives, and Activities	52	(5)
Plan of Operation	57	(1)
Evaluation Design and Research Implications	57	(4)
Dissemination of Findings, Results, and Products	61	(1)
Plan for Continued Support (Sustainability)	61	(2)
Budget Appendices	63	(1)
C. Letter of Transmittal	63	(1)
D. Proposal Writing, Design, and Organization Guidelines	64	(3)
4-Project Personnel	67	(6)
A. Project Staffing Requirements	67	(1)
1. Requirements from the Funding Agency	68	(1)
2. Requirements from the Applicant	68	(1)
B. Local Personnel Available to the Project	68	(1)
C. Capabilities Statements for Key Project Personnel	69	(3)
Project Director	69	(1)
Administrators	70	(1)
Teachers	70	(1)
School Librarians	71	(1)
Support Staff	71	(1)
Parent Leaders	72	(1)
Notes	72	(1)
5-Project Evaluation	73	(26)
A. Overview of the Evaluation Process	73	(1)
B. Evaluation Methods	73	(2)
1. Formative Evaluation	74	(1)
2. Summative Evaluation	74	(1)
C. The Basics of Evaluation	75	(17)
1. Selecting an Evaluator	87	(1)
2. Internal Evaluation Teams	87	(5)
3. Outside Evaluation Teams	92	(1)
D. Planning the Evaluation	92	(2)
E. Analyzing Evaluation Data	94	(2)
F. Writing the Evaluation Report	96	(3)
Executive Summary	96	(1)
Formative Evaluation	96	(1)
Summative Evaluation	96	(3)
6-Budget Development	99	(24)
A. The Role of the Budget	99	(3)
B. Budget Preparation	102	(18)
1. Ground Rules for Budget Preparation	102	(1)
2. Identify the Costs	102	(2)
3. Draft the Budget	104	(16)
4. Review the Budget with School District Administrators	120	(1)
C. Additional Budgeting Considerations	120	(1)
1. The Influence of Funding Agencies on Budget Formatting	120	(1)
2. Budget Adjustments and Amendments	120	(1)
3. Subcontracts	121	(1)
Notes	121	(2)
7-Appendices 123
A. The Role of Appendices	123	(1)
B. Grant Compliances and Assurances	123	(1)
C. Demographic Data and Community Descriptions	124	(10)
D. Profiles of Participating Institutions	134	(1)
E. Curriculum Vitae and Job Descriptions	134	(1)
F. Standards, Benchmarks, and Academic Achievement	134	(4)
G. Literature Review, "Best Practices," and Models	138	(1)
H. Letters of Commitment and Letters of Support	138	(1)
I. Bibliography of Resources Consulted	138	(1)
Notes	138	(1)
8-After the Proposal	139	(8)
A. Activities Between the Submission and Decision	139	(2)
B. Strategies for Successful Grant Recipients	141	(2)
C. Strategies for Organizations Failing to Obtain Grant Funding	143	(1)
D. Poor Grantsmanship Practices	144	(2)
1. The Narrative	144	(1)
2. The Budget	145	(1)
3. The Details	146	(1)
E. Resubmitting the Proposal	146	(1)
Annotated Bibliography	147	(4)
Resources for Discovering Funding Sources	147	(2)
Print Resources	147	(1)
Internet/World Wide Web Sites	148	(1)
Resources to Support the Project (from Initiation to Evaluation)	149	(8)
Print Resources	149	(1)
Internet/World Wide Web Sites	150	(1)
Glossary of Grant Terms	151	(6)
Appendix A: Overview of Federal Grant Programs	157	(12)
Funding of Interest to School Libraries	158	(1)
Improving Literacy through School Libraries	158	(1)
Recruiting and Educating Librarians for the 21st Century	159	(1)
Early Reading First Program	160	(1)
School Library Book Grants	161	(1)
Family Literacy Grants	162	(1)
Library Services and Technology Act Funds	163	(1)
Funding of Interest to School Districts	164	(1)
Teaching American History Grant Program	164	(1)
Parental Assistance (Parent Assistance Centers) Program	165	(1)
Teacher Quality Enhancement Grants Program-Partnership Grants	166	(1)
Smaller Learning Communities Program	167	(1)
Community Technology Centers (CTCs)	168	(1)
Appendix B: Fifty Tips for Grant Writers	169	(2)
Appendix C: Frequently Asked Questions About Grantsmanship	171	(6)
Appendix D: Types of Grants	177	(4)
Index	181