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Opportunity number
LB21-FY22
Agency
Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
Program
Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program
Link
Website
Due date
September 24, 2021, for Preliminary Proposals; March 25, 2022 for Invited Full Proposals.
Location
National
Sector
Education & Workforce Information Technologies Research
Project funding
Planning Grants (1yr): up to $100,000. National Forum Grants (1-2yrs): up to $150,000. Project Grants (1-3yrs): up to $1,000,000. Research Grants (1-4yrs): up to $500,000.
Program funding
$8M
Funding size
Below $9M

Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program

RFP Summary provided by the agency

The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (LB21) supports developing a diverse workforce of librarians to better meet the changing learning and information needs of the American public by: enhancing the training and professional development of library and archives professionals, developing faculty and library leaders, and recruiting and educating the next generation of library and archives professionals.
All applications must designate one of the following project categories:

  • Goal 1: Recruit, train, develop, and retain a diverse workforce of library and archives professionals.
  • Goal 2: Develop faculty, library, and archives leaders by increasing the institutional capacity of libraries, archives, and graduate programs related to library and information science
  • Goal 3: Enhance the training and professional development of the library and archival workforce to meet the needs of their communities.

What is the mission and focus of the program: research, social, economic or others?

The goals focus on achieving positive public outcomes for communities and individuals; supporting the unique role of museums and libraries in preserving and providing access to collections and content; and promoting library, museum, and information service policies that ensure access to information for all Americans.

How do you submit to this opportunity?

Submit through Grants.gov

Who are the target applicants: cities, universities, companies, small business, nonprofits, or others?

Libraries, agencies, institutions of higher education, museums, and other entities that advance the museum and library fields

Example project(s) summaries from past RFPs:

Fiscal Year: 2018, Award: $308,920, City: Austin State: TX. university of Texas. The information we generate on social media sites and in mobile device apps represents the fastest form of data creation and collection in the United States. However, these data traces are complicated to work with because they are varied, inter-dependent, and vulnerable to loss. In this Early Career Development project, Dr. Amelia Acker at the University of Texas at Austin, will conduct a three-year, qualitative investigation into the activities of engineers and designers at five institutions where social media software is being developed. This project to better understand developer cultures will aid archives, libraries, and museums as they develop and implement best practices for gathering and preserving social media collections. https://www.imls.gov/grants/awarded/re-07-18-0008-18

(ii) Example project(s) summaries from past RFPs:

Black Hills Special Services Co Operative, Fiscal Year: 2018, Award: $249,093, Recipient Type: Library, Program: Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. Technology and Innovation in Education, a division of the Black Hills Special Services Cooperative – in collaboration with the State Libraries of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming will enhance the expertise and leadership of rural school librarians in the three-state region and create a process for replication that other rural regions might adapt. Participants will develop skills needed to utilize open education resources (OER), to integrate digital applications into professional practices, and to serve as instructional leaders in their schools. Building expertise in OER becomes essential in rural school districts where budget cuts threaten not only school libraries but up-to-date course content. Expertise in OER curation and creation addresses the challenge of providing quality resources despite financial concerns. Throughout the project, all sessions will be designed to build participant competencies in using OER so that they will be able to return to their schools as instructional leaders who can: communicate the qualities of an effective OER; identify and utilize tools for curation; curate and create OER content. https://www.imls.gov/grants/awarded/re-70-18-0050-18

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