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Cultural Diversity Grant

Guidelines for Applicants

Goals

The goals of the grant program are to support the creation and dissemination of resources that will assist library administrators and managers in developing a vision and commitment to diversity, and in fostering and sustaining diversity throughout their institutions; to increase the representation and advancement of people of color in the field of library administration and management and to establish productive partnerships between LAMA and major national organizations representing minority interests; to strengthen the diversity of LAMA membership, committees, and officers and integrate diversity into all aspects of the Association's work.

Recipient

The LAMA Cultural Diversity Grant is available to LAMA members or LAMA units in support of the grant program goals. Members of the LAMA Cultural Diversity Committee are ineligible.

Criteria

Projects demonstrating creativity and innovation, and whose results will be widely distributed, will be especially welcome. It is preferred that projects be completed within one year of announcement of the grant award with two years being the maximum duration of any project. Grants will be made to fund the activities enumerated below.

1. Educational activities including workshops, seminars, programs, institutes, etc.
   
   
2. Research results
   
   
3. Publications
   
   
4. Mentoring and networking initiatives and opportunities
   
   
5. Sponsorship of and reports on attendance at conferences of national minority organizations or other relevant groups
   
   
6. Resource lists
   
   
7. Studies and reports on successful diversity-related initiatives in libraries or other organizations.

Proposals will be judged on the following criteria:

1. Extent to which the application meets the goals outlined above
   
   
2. Quality of the application and clarity of information provided
   
   
3. Strength of justification of need for the project
   
   
4. Feasibility of completing the project within required deadlines
   
   
5. Evidence of support and commitment to realize the project by the individual or group submitting the application
   
   
6. Soundness of proposed budget
   
   
7. Size and breadth of target audience.

Publication

Any publications developed as a result of a project funded by this grant must be offered to ALA for right of first refusal.
 

Reporting

An interim and final report are required. The Chair of the LAMA Cultural Diversity Committee will invite the grant recipient to present an oral report mid-way through the project. At the end of project, the grant recipient will submit a final written report and will be invited to present an oral report to the LAMA Cultural Diversity Committee.

Number and Frequency of Award

The award generally will be awarded annually to two persons or units. If a suitable candidate is not found, no award will be presented. Awards amounts are generally up to $1,000.

Submission of Application

Submit Application by December 1, 2007, to:

Kerry Ward, Executive Director
Library Administration and Management Association
50 E. Huron Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611

Fax: 312/280-5033
Email: kward@ala.org

Presentation of the Award

The Executive Director of the Library Administration and Management Association will notify the successful applicant by March 1.

The grant award will be formally announced and recognized at the LAMA President's Program at the Annual Conference.