During the last week notices were sent concerning grant money that is available for libraries and other community facilities through the USDA’s Rural Development Community Facilities Grant Program. After meeting with local USDA Business and Community Programs Directors, the Colorado State Library would like to share some information with you concerning this opportunity.
Download a PDF of this information
- This money is being offered through ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act).
- The funds will help rural communities up to 20,000 in population to improve their community facilities (including libraries), enhance educational opportunities, and improve economic conditions. Specifically, eligible purposes include:
- Construct, enlarge, extend, or improve essential community facilities
- Obtain necessary equipment for the operation of these facilities
- Reasonable fees such as engineering, legal, administrative environmental analysis, surveys, and planning
- Cost of acquiring interest in land; rights, such as water rights, leases, permits, and rights-of-way Continue reading ‘ARRA Grant Money Available for Rural Libraries’
The Rene Spitz School Library at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan (CMHI-FL) is the recipient of a $2,500 grant from the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation, Inc. Librarian Kate Elder requested the grant to purchase audiobooks to accompany the library’s most popular books, plus additional bundles of books and audio packaged together.
CMHI-FL is one of Colorado’s two state hospitals providing mental health services for persons with complex, serious, and persistent mental illness. Over 85% of students admitted to CMHI-FL’s residential school program read below grade level. For these students, access to audiobooks provides access to age-appropriate vocabulary and content in materials beyond their reading level. In particular, audiobooks can be an extremely useful learning tool to motivate poor readers, reluctant readers, or struggling readers.
The Lois Lenski Covey Foundation, Inc. is a charitable institute whose purpose is to assist organizations in providing books to children who might otherwise lack access to children’s literature. For more information, see http://www.loislenskicovey.org/index.html.
The Colorado State Library is looking for volunteers from the library community to review grant applications for the 09-10 LSTA grant offering period. Representatives from public, academic, school, and special libraries are needed.
Volunteers must be available for the grant reading session on 9/2/09, 9am-5pm. The grant reading location is Smokey Hill Library, 5430 S. Biscay Circle, in Centennial. Travel expenses will be reimbursed through the Colorado State Library.
View criteria for volunteers and application questions (PDF)
Send responses to Jean M. Heilig, LSTA Grant Coordinator, by 8/3/09.
IMLS, in conjunction with members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, will hold free workshops for potential applicants to its grants programs on June 22 and 23 in Colorado and Wyoming.
Colorado
Host: U.S. Representative Jared Polis (D-CO-02)
Co-hosts: U.S. Senators Mark Udall (D-CO) and Michael F. Bennet (D-CO), and U.S. Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO-01), Betsy Markey (D-CO-04), Mike Coffman (R-CO-06), and Edwin G. Perlmutter (D-CO-07)
Place: Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 West 104th Ave, Westminster, CO 80020 Date and Time: June 22, 2009, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Continue reading ‘IMLS & Congressional Offices to Hold Grant Workshops for Museums & Libraries in CO and WY’
Is the economic crisis effecting your library? Do you need some assistance?
We need your input!
From Gene Hainer:
As the state explores the various funding streams associated with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) we are seeking your input to determine needs and possible uses of ARRA funds in Colorado libraries.“You can help by answering the questions at http://surveys.lrs.org/respond.php?sid=53. Please try to respond by *March 30*. It should take 5-10 minutes.
Continue reading ‘American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)’
You may now apply for a Mini-Grant for the 2009 Summer Reading Program!
The Colorado State Library will award 60 Mini-Grants of $175 each to public libraries to support and promote the 2009 “Be Creative” and/or “Express Yourself” Summer Reading Program in their local communities. Priority will be given to libraries below 10,000 Legal Service Area (LSA) population and libraries in non-metro locations.
Visit www.cde.state.co.us/cdelib/SummerReading/minigrants.htm for more information and to apply. Please submit the application and agreement form by Friday, January 30, 2009.
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