Peggy Barber Tribute Grant Guidelines

Peggy Barber Tribute Grant logoDate posted: Tuesday, December 1, 2020
Deadline for Submission: February 5, 2021 by 11:59 pm (CST)
Award Notification Date: March 22, 2021
Apply online via Foundant

Questions?

Before starting, read the grant FAQ and carefully review the requirements below.

Contact the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office staff at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 5045, or publicprograms@ala.org.   

Table of Contents

  1. Grant Description
  2. Eligibility
  3. Award Information
  4. Requirements
  5. Eligible Expenses
  6. Application and Submission Information
  7. Application Review
  8. Grant Administration Information
  9. Points of Contact

Grant Description

The Peggy Barber Tribute Grant is an annual grant that recognizes, promotes, and supports meaningful programs in libraries that have limited and/or no access to budgetary support for programming. This grant aims to help ease budget challenges by annually awarding three libraries $2,500 to support a proposed program, program series, or programming effort. 

Each year, the grant will focus on supporting a different type of library programming. For the 2020–2021 cycle, libraries are invited to submit applications for a grant to support humanities-based programming. Proposed programs may be in-person or virtual and should take into consideration local health and safety regulations related to COVID-19. To apply, libraries should submit proposals outlining their plans for using the grant to continue existing and/or create new humanities programming.

Eligibility

Award Information

Up to three libraries will be selected to receive $2,500 to advance their humanities-based programming. The grant period may be one to two years in length.

Requirements

The selected libraries make the following commitments:

  • Appoint one staff member as the project director of the project.
  • Carry out evaluation and measure outcomes of the project.
  • Submit any significant variance to proposed plans in writing to ALA.
  • Submit a comprehensive final report to ALA with project accomplishments, evaluation findings, outcomes, and use of funds within 30 days of the project end date.
  • Present the project either as a webinar or written program model for ProgrammingLibrarian.org, a website of ALA’s Public Programs Office.

Eligible Expenses

Peggy Barber Tribute Grant funds are restricted to program related expenses. Eligible expenses may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Program supplies 
  • Promotion and publicity
  • Purchase of collection materials 
  • Library staff time

Grant funds may not be used to support indirect costs (e.g., general library administrative expenses).

Application and Submission Information

ALA will accept applications for the Peggy Barber Tribute Grant beginning December 1, 2020, and ending on February 5, 2021, at 11:59 pm (CST).

Please review the Frequently Asked Questions before applying.

Getting Started

To submit a proposal, go to the online application form and complete the following steps. If this is your first time submitting an application through Foundant, our grants management system, you may want to first review our How to Apply webpage.

To apply for a Peggy Barber Tribute Grant, you must complete the following steps:

  1. ENTER PROJECT NAME
  2. COMPLETE PROJECT DIRECTOR INFORMATION
  3. COMPLETE LIBRARY INFORMATION
  4. WRITE GRANT NARRATIVE
  5. UPLOAD SUPPORTING MATERIALS
  6. SIGN APPLICATION BY AUTHORIZED OFFICIAL
  7. REVIEW AND EDIT YOUR APPLICATION
  8. SUBMIT APPLICATION

1.    Enter Project Name

To begin your application, enter PBTG into the “Project Name” field.

2.    Complete Project Director Information

To complete this section, provide all the information that is requested about the Project Director.

Note: The project director is the person who will be responsible for coordinating the entire proposed project. They will be the primary point of contact for the project at the applicant institution.

3.    Complete Library Information

To complete this section, provide all the information about the applying library, including type, total population served, and community type. Also indicate the association(s) you or the library are members of.

4.    Write Grant Narratives

Each narrative response should be 600 words or less. Before you compose the narrative part of this application, we strongly recommend that you read these guidelines. If you do not, your application is unlikely to be competitive. 

  1. Community and Library Information. Describe your library and the community it serves, including demographics, dynamics, and key issues or challenges it faces. Why does your library need this grant to maintain existing or create new humanities-based programming? What should reviewers know about your library and community in order to understand your proposed project?
  2. Project Description. Describe in detail the humanities programming you will use the grant for. What topic(s) will the program or program series focus on? Who is the target audience? How will the program be conducted? What activities will occur?
  3. Project Goals. Describe the library’s goals or the purpose of your proposed programming. What are you aiming to accomplish?
  4. Evaluation Plan. Describe your evaluation plan for the project. How do you plan to measure success? (For help creating an outcomes-based evaluation plan, please refer to the Institute for Museum and Library Services' Outcome Based Evaluations guide and the Public Library Association's Project Outcome tool.)
  5. Budget. Describe your plans for the grant funds. What will you use the funding to purchase or support? The total amount of your proposed budget plan should add up to $2,500. 

5. Upload Supporting Materials

5a. Upload Letters of Support - OPTIONAL

Upload letters of support from any other organizations or individuals that are in favor of your project. This may include letters of support from the library’s friends’ group, library board members, civic leaders, community partners, etc.

5b. Upload Attachments - OPTIONAL

Upload any additional materials that support your proposed project. These may include, but are not limited to:

  • Photographs
  • Presentation slides
  • Posters
  • Newsletter articles
  • Program flyers

6. Sign Application by Authorized Official

An application for a Peggy Barber Tribute Grant is an application for a grant from ALA, using funding from the Cultural Communities Fund. ALA is required to ask applicants to identify a certifying official who is authorized to submit applications for funding on behalf of the institution.

To complete this section, you must enter all information that is requested.

7. Review and Edit Your Application

8. Submit Your Application

Once you have completed all parts of your application, you may submit it by selecting the Submit button. All applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm CST on February 5, 2021. Applications submitted after that time will be ineligible.

Note that once you have submitted your application, you can no longer alter it. The application will then be submitted for review. You will receive an email confirming submission of your application.

Application Review

Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

  • Evidence that the library needs funding to continue or create humanities-based programming
  • The coherence of the application and overall impression it gives of the library being able to carry out the project effectively
  • Excellence, appeal, and meaningfulness of the proposed project
  • Clarity and completeness of the application

Applicants are encouraged to address questions about the selection guidelines, process, and requirements to the ALA Public Programs Office at 1-800-545-2433 ext. 5045, or publicprograms@ala.org.

Review and Selection Process

Each application will be assessed by the Peggy Barber Tribute Grant selection committee. The committee consists of a chair and four ALA members appointed by the Public and Cultural Programs Advisory Committee (PCPAC). Final award decisions will be made by the grant selection committee.

Grant Administration Information

Application deadline: February 5, 2021
Award Notification: March 22, 2021
Grants distributed by: April 30, 2021
Project Start Date: May 1, 2021
Project End Date: April 30, 2022 OR April 30, 2023
Final Report Due: Within 30 days of project completion

Point of Contact

If you have questions, contact

Public Programs Office
American Library Association
1-800-545-2433, ext. 5045
publicprograms@ala.org