[lstac] Non-Competitive grants

[Baffoni, Nicolette (OLIS)]

Hi Karen,

I know this very angst well!  We have a similar program, though we do let people use their funds for programming without any expectation of innovation/expansion. Our requirement is, however, that the funds must be spent on some kind of “hands-on, experiential learning” so it can basically be used for program supplies or educational presenters. We make libraries provide the learning outcomes for the programs they are proposing (we don’t get very good learning outcomes from this, so we’re thinking of a new way to elicit this information) and we will reject proposals that try to sneak performers and entertainment in, which we do not allow. We do allow them to revise and resubmit if we reject their first proposal.  You would think we were actually performing torture on our library staff the way people react to these basic requirements – we get asked fairly regularly why we won’t allow “fun.”

During the pandemic, we started approving take and make kits for this program (as long as they came with instructions and learning outcomes!) but we will be removing this as allowable from our grant program unless explicitly tied to an in-person/live virtual program. It seems like some people were just throwing all their money at cheap take and makes for which they collected no real outcomes beyond, “people took them.” We anticipate that this will be another unpopular decision.

Meanwhile, we are also thinking of coming up with 5 – 10 program ideas with shopping lists that people can chose if they are unable to come up with their own ideas, or they may opt for something they design themselves.

Good luck! It’s a beast, but even with some of the griping, we know our libraries get a lot of out this program so we keep trying.

Nicolette

Nicolette Baffoni
Library Development Manager and LSTA Coordinator
Office of Library & Information Services
Rhode Island Department of Administration
One Capitol Hill | Providence, RI  02908-5803

401.574.9316 (voice) | 401.574.9320 (fax) | www.olis.ri.gov<http://www.olis.ri.gov/>

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From: lstac <lstac-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> On Behalf Of Reish, Karren (MDE) via lstac
Sent: Monday, December 18, 2023 2:18 PM
To: lstac at omls.oregon.gov
Subject: [lstac] Non-Competitive grants

Good afternoon, Michigan has a small (under $2,000 per grant), simple programming supply grant for public libraries. It is intended to allow more robust summer programming in public libraries and a chance for the library to try something new. 

Good afternoon, Michigan has a small (under $2,000 per grant), simple programming supply grant for public libraries. It is intended to allow more robust summer programming in public libraries and a chance for the library to try something new. It is on hiatus since last year due to the CARES/ARPA work and I am pondering how to restart it. My issue is that it has become operational expenditures for small libraries. They just ask for their programming costs each summer. For many, it isn’t increasing their programming nor are they necessarily trying something new.

Does anyone else do a non-competitive small grant like this? Do you consider the specific programming content as part of the criteria other than for allowability? Am I just angsting over what a small library can do for grant applications and for programming?

Thanks for any insights.

Karren Reish
Library Grants Coordinator
Library of Michigan
517-241-0021,  www.michigan.gov/lsta [michigan.gov]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.michigan.gov/lsta__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!ONHuyYo1APftUV9USGVcIgD2gGGFAgqIWCTP9aUmrwAbUPToLdmT4fpJEoEHB_8HpTKCmx7bHLv2z00sk2-f81SOlLPfSh4$>

The Michigan School Meals program allows for all public school students, grades Pre-K to 12, to eat breakfast and lunch for free. Learn more [michigan.gov]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.michigan.gov/mde/services/food/michigan-school-meals__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!ONHuyYo1APftUV9USGVcIgD2gGGFAgqIWCTP9aUmrwAbUPToLdmT4fpJEoEHB_8HpTKCmx7bHLv2z00sk2-f81SOyUMVZlg$>.
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