The application webinars for the LM Improving Access to Information grants are next Thursday, April 11th. Register at https://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan/libraries/lsta/medium-grants. The registration links are under the Application Webinars heading. The application webinars are required to apply, either with attendance at the webinar or watching the recording afterwards.

The recording of the Informational webinar has been posted at the same location for your information.

Please see the announcement email below for more information.

Karren Reish

Library Grants Coordinator

Library of Michigan

517-241-0021,  www.michigan.gov/lsta

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The Library of Michigan is pleased to announce that the Improving Access to Information grant programs is open for 2024! This LSTA grant program is designed to provide public and academic libraries and library cooperatives with the opportunity to expand services for learning and access to information and/or to develop library services that provide all users access to information. The intent is to fund one-year projects that increase capacity to provide access to library collections and information for users. The expected focus will be the improvement in access to library users in one of the three priorities listed below and that align with the LSTA priorities listed in the grant documentation. Proposals that do not focus on improving access to users do not fit the criteria.

• Improve access to services & information in areas of literacy.
• Improve access to services & information in areas of local history or special collections.
• Improve access to information for community users with limited online access, e.g., improving equity through digital inclusion.

The grant period is one year (Oct. 1 - Sept. 30) and funding is from $5,000 to $25,000. Funding is by reimbursement only. Applications are due Friday, May 31st by 5:00 PM EST. Eligible applicants are Michigan public and academic libraries and library cooperatives. Public libraries must be legally established and eligible for state aid at the time of application. Academic libraries must be part of a public or non-profit college or university currently accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. A federal Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number is required to apply. The grant program is competitive.

Application Webinars: Register at www.michigan.gov/lsta in the Improving Access to Information grant section.

• Grant Program Informational webinar - March 19th, 1:00 PM
• Application webinar - Applying for the Literacy, Digital Inclusion & Library Programming Priorities - April 11th, 1:00 PM - REQUIRED.
• Application webinar - Applying for the Local History or Special Collections Priority - April 11th, 3:00 PM – REQUIRED for this priority.
• Budget webinar - Developing Your Grant Budget - April 23rd, 2:00 PM

Detailed information on the grant program, including timeline, applicant eligibility, and the applications are available at www.michigan.gov/lsta in the Improving Access to Information grant section.

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have.