[kids-lib] Grant Opportunity for Rural Public Libraries

[The Libri Foundation]

January 2012

The Libri Foundation is currently accepting applications for its 2012
BOOKS FOR CHILDREN grants.

The Libri Foundation is a nationwide non-profit organization which
donates new, quality, hardcover children's books to small, rural public
libraries throughout the United States. Since October 1990, the
Foundation has donated over $5,000,000 worth of new children's books to
more than 3,000 libraries in all 50 states.

In order to encourage and reward local support of libraries, The Libri
Foundation will match any amount of money raised by your local sponsors
from $50 to $350 on a 2-to-1 ratio. Thus, a library can receive up to
$1,050 worth of new children's books. After a library receives a grant,
local sponsors (such as formal or informal Friends groups, civic or
social organizations, local businesses, etc.) have four months, or
longer if necessary, to raise their matching funds.

The librarian of each participating library selects the books her
library will receive from a booklist provided by the Foundation. The
700-plus fiction and nonfiction titles on the booklist reflect the very
best of children's literature published primarily in the last three
years. These titles, which are for children ages 12 and under, are
award-winners or have received starred reviews in library, literary, or
education journals. The booklist also includes a selection of classic
children's titles.

Libraries are qualified on an individual basis. In general, county
libraries should serve a population under 16,000 and town libraries
should serve a population under 10,000 (usually under 5,000). Libraries
should be in a rural area, have a limited operating budget, and an
active children's department.

Please note:  Rural is usually considered to be at least 30 miles from a
city with a population over 40,000. Town libraries with total operating
budgets over $150,000 and county libraries with total operating budgets
over $350,000 are rarely given grants.

Applications are accepted from independent libraries as well as
libraries which are part of a county, regional, or cooperative library
system.

A school library may apply only if it also serves as the public library
(i.e. it is open to the everyone in the community, has some summer
hours, and there is no public library in town).

A branch library may apply if the community it is in meets the
definition of rural.  If the branch library receives its funding from
its parent institution, then the parent institution's total operating
budget, not just the branch library's total operating budget, must meet
the budget guidelines.

A library that received a BOOKS FOR CHILDREN grant in 2009 or earlier is 
eligible to apply if it fulfilled all the grant requirements, including 
sending in its final report.

Application deadlines for 2012 are: (postmarked by) January 23rd, and
May 15th. Grants will be awarded January 31st and May 31st.

The names of grant recipients will be posted on the Foundation's website
a few days after grants are awarded. Acceptance packets are usually
mailed 14-18 days after grants are awarded.

If you want your books in time for your summer reading program, please
apply for a January grant. May grant recipients may not receive their
books until after most summer reading programs are over.

Please DO NOT waste money sending your application by Express Mail. The
application deadline is based on postmark date, not arrival date.

Application guidelines and forms may be downloaded from the Foundation's
website at:  www.librifoundation.org.

For more information about The Libri Foundation or its Books for
Children program, please contact Ms. Barbara J. McKillip, President, The
Libri Foundation, PO Box 10246, Eugene, OR  97440.  541-747-9655
(phone); 541-747-4348 (fax); libri at librifoundation.org (email). Normal
office hours are: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Pacific Time.