For Schools:
The Best Buy te@ch Program recognizes creative uses of interactive technology in K-12 classrooms. The purpose of te@ch is to reward schools for the successful interactive programs they have launched using available technology; the school does not need to have the latest equipment to qualify.
All accredited public, private, parochial and nonprofit charter schools that are within 50 miles of a U.S. Best Buy store are eligible to apply.
Up to 1200 qualifying K-12 schools will be selected to receive $2,500 Best Buy te@ch gift cards. From those 1200 schools, 36 schools will be awarded an additional Best Buy te@ch award, valued at $15,000 each. One U.S. public school district will be awarded a National te@ch Award worth $250,000.
Applications must be submitted online by September 30, 2006. For more information visit: bestbuyteach.scholarshipamerica.org/
AASL Announces New Reading Grant
The American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is pleased to announce the newest addition to its grants and awards program - the AASL Innovative Reading Grant. Sponsored by Coughlan Publishing, the $2,500 grant will support the planning and implementation of a unique and innovative program for students that motivates and encourages reading, especially with struggling readers.
The grant is designed to fund literacy projects for grades K-9 that promote the importance of reading and facilitate literacy development by supporting current reading research, practice, and policy.
Applications and detailed information are available on the AASL Web site: www.ala.org/aasl/awards. Deadline for submission is February 1, 2007.
For School and Parent Collaborations:
Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grant Program empowers parents and further encourages their involvement in their children's schools. The program funds school improvement projects initiated by parents. Up to $5,000 per school is available to 1,000 different schools and parent groups.
The deadlines are October 15, 2006 and February 15, 2007. Visit: www.toolboxforeducation.com/
Receive a free planning kit from Target to host a Family Reading Night at your school
www.schoolfamilynights.com/SFN_reading_parent.html. No deadline.
For School and Public Libraries and Community Collaborations:
The National Gardening Association and Home Depot announce Youth Garden Grants. Grow a garden at your library with the help of the children in your community. The grants provide all the materials your youth group needs to start a beautiful garden.
Applications must be postmarked by November 1, 2006. See: www.kidsgardening.com/YGG.asp
For Public Libraries:
Is your library the Best Small Library in America? Library Journal's annual award for the Best Small Library in America, cosponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, encourages and showcases the exemplary work of small libraries. The award honors the public library that most profoundly demonstrates outstanding service to populations of 25,000 or less.
The winning library will receive a $15,000 cash award, a feature story in Library Journal, membership and conference costs for two library representatives to attend the Public Library Association Biannual Conference in 2008, and a gala reception at the conference.
The deadline is November 1, 2006. Information is at: www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA606273.html
For Public and Academic Libraries:
The American Library Association Public Programs Office and Nextbook announce two new rounds of grants for Let's Talk About It: Jewish Literature -- Identity and Imagination, a theme-based reading and discussion series.
The series features scholar-led discussions that explore the best in contemporary and classic Jewish literature. Participating libraries will each host a five-part discussion series featuring one of six themes.
Each library selected will receive a $2,500 grant to support program costs and scholar honoraria, training for the library project director, a planning guide, and program materials.
The deadline is for this first round is December 1, 2006. More information is available at: www.ala.org/ala/ppo/currentprograms/letstalkaboutit/letstalkaboutit.htm
For Museums:
IMLS is accepting grant applications for its Conservation Project Support program. These are matching grants to help museums identify conservation needs and priorities and perform activities to ensure the safe- keeping of their collections.
The deadline is October 1, 2006. Visit the IMLS Web site for guidelines and application instructions: www.imls.gov/news/2006/072106.shtm
For Libraries of All Types:
Apply for the $5,000 Scholastic Library Publishing National Library Week Grant. The award will be given to one library which best uses the 2007 National Library Week (April 15-21, 2007) theme, "Come together @ your library."
Proposals must use the "Come together @ your library" theme, which incorporates the Campaign for America's Libraries' "@ your library" brand, on any and all promotional and publicity material supporting National Library Week activities.
The deadline is October 16, 2006. See the ALA site for more information on the award and on using the "@ your library" brand: www.ala.org/ala/pio/campaign/nlw/nlwgrant.htm
Carnegie-Whitney Awards provide grants of up to $5,000 to individuals or groups affiliated with ALA for the preparation of print or electronic reading lists, indexes, or other guides to library resources that promote reading or the use of library resources at any type of library.
Applications must be received by November 6, 2006. For guidelines, visit: www.ala.org/work/pubs/Carnegie.html
National Endowment for the Humanities Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants are new offerings for the planning or initial stages of digital humanities initiatives in the areas of: research, publication, preservation, access, teacher training, and dissemination in informal or formal educational settings.
Applications should describe the concept or problem that is being addressed, the plan of work, the experience of the project team as it relates to the plan, and the intended outcomes of both the grant and the larger project.
The deadline is November 15, 2006. For more information see: www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/dhstartup.html
