Sponsored by Marina "Marney" Welmers
Monetary Amount: up to $2,000
This grant is no longer available. Information included on this page is for historical purposes.
Overview
Through the generous donation of Marina “Marney” Welmers, an AASL member and retired middle school librarian, AASL is pleased to offer the Inspire Special Event Grant. The grant opportunity supports a special event so that an existing public middle or high school library can create new or enhance its extracurricular activities in order to increase student academic achievement at their school. The goal is to provide direct assistance funding to middle or high school libraries for special short-term projects or events that would create new or enhance educational activities in order to engage students with and in the library and to promote reading, books, literacy and authors.
The fund is $10,000 per annum. The direct assistance is capped at $2,000 per grant.
Eligibility
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The applicant must be a publicly funded middle or high school, grades 5-12, and have an existing campus library. Each library, regardless of the variety of constituents it may serve, is limited to submission of one application.
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The grant is awarded to individual schools, not to districts; all schools in a given district are welcome to apply if they meet the criteria, but each school must submit an application that is specific to their needs.
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Private, parochial, independent, and home schools are not eligible. Charter schools can apply if they are publicly funded.
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The public middle or high school library must be located in the United States, with one staff position being held by a certified school librarian.
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If the school does not have a certified school librarian on campus staff, the applicant can still apply if there is a certified school librarian available at the district or regional level who will work with the school on the selection of materials to be purchased. Regional level may include service centers or equivalent, university faculty, or staff of neighboring school districts.
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The school and/or the certified school librarian do not have to be a member of ALA, AASL, or any other ALA division to apply; however, the jury may take membership into consideration when determining grant awards.
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Schools that have 85% or more of its student population qualified for Free Reduced Lunch (FRL) program should include this information in their application to receive additional consideration by the Jury.
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The Jury may take the school’s geographic location into consideration when determining grant awards.
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Funds can be used to fund author visits, special events, contests, Book Clubs, Summer Reading programs, displays, etc. that engage middle or high school students with and in the library.
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Institutions represented by Inspire Special Event Jury can be eligible to apply, but committee members must recuse themselves from the discussion and voting or decline if they have a conflict of interest.
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The school library must be a first-time recipient of the Inspire Special Event Grant. All previous recipients are ineligible to apply.
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The recipient must agree to deliver a final report within twelve months of receipt of the grant money. If photographs or images are part of the report, the school must include digital copies (300 dpi images or higher) of all release-signed photographs. These reports can be posted, with permission of the recipient, to the AASL website, and to any other ALA website/webpage or ALA publication as requested by ALA.
Criteria
The Inspire Special Event Fund Jury will evaluate the applicant based on the following criteria:
- The quality of the benefits this grant will bring to the community.
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A project plan that includes a timeline, budget, and clarity of purpose.
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Rankings based on a rubric that correlates with the ratings sheet
Download Criteria & Rating Sheets 
Download a Copy of Application
* Please note: This downloadable version is for informational purposes only. All applications must be submitted online, via the Apply Now button that will appear at the top of the page when the next award season opens in early September.
Questions
Allison Cline 
Deputy Executive Director
Recipients
| Year | Recipient | School |
| 2022 | Kristi Allred | North Davidson Middle School Lexington, North Carolina |
 "North Davidson Middle School is thrilled to receive the Inspire Special Event Grant, which will bring playwright/actor Mike Wiley to perform his one-man play "A Game Apart." This play focuses on Jackie Robinson and other US athletes who broke the color barrier. Their stories of courage and perseverance will surely inspire all students. The media center will support the historical context and social-emotional learning with literature and nonfiction. This will be an amazing opportunity!" |
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| 2022 | Jessica Fitzpatrick | Mayde Creek High School Richmond, Texas |
 "Thank you so much for this honor! Librarian in the Huddle started as a mission to reach students who usually do not go to the library and it has impacted so many students in a positive way. With these funds, we will be able to continue and grow this program and reach so many more students through literacy, community and athletics." |
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| 2022 | Dohnia Galloway | Mayo High School for Math, Science, and Technology Darlington, South Carolina |
 "This collaborative environment will support our curriculum by fostering a love for literacy, writing, teamwork, and community. Leaders will be developed while embracing the STEM areas that provide opportunities for excellence and mastery. Lifelong learning tools will be enhanced as leaders in the community come in and teach our students about their careers and life lessons. The books provided will offer project-based learning experiences that will remain with our students for years to come." |
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| 2022 | Hannah Luce | Madison Area Memorial High School Madison, Maine |
 "I am thrilled to accept this AASL Inspire Special Event Grant for Madison High School’s 2022 All-School Summer Read. This support for our new summer reading initiative will help build a culture of year-round reading. All of our students and staff will read a common book, inspiring a community-wide conversation and a valuable shared experience. I am grateful that AASL believes in programs like this that work at the local level supporting student growth." |
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| 2022 | Stephanie Persson | Woodside High School Newport News, Virginia |
 "Woodside High School is honored to receive the AASL Inspire Special Even Grant. “Healing Through Literature, Arts, and Goats” will bring together our arts magnet students, the library, and the school counseling department for a collaborative social emotional learning event. Students will discuss a graphic novel and art with school counselors, and pet therapy with baby goats will wrap up the three week event. Thank you for supporting this special project." |
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| 2021 | Rebecca Caufman | Radford High School Radford, Virginia |
| 2021 | Matia Edwards | Griffin High School Griffin, Georgia |
| 2021 | Janet Parrish | Butler Traditional High School Louisville, Kentucky |
| 2021 | Chris Peeler | Heather Ridge School Frederick, Maryland |
| 2021 | Melissa Raymer | DC Virgo Preparatory Academy Wilmington, North Carolina |
| 2020 | Cameron Carey | Baldwin-Woodville High School Baldwin, Wisconsin |
| 2020 | Amy Gammon | Greenport Elementary School Greenport, New York |
| 2020 | Kristina Graves | Schenectady High School Schenectady, New York |
| 2020 | Tatanisha Love | Loch Raven Technical Academy Towson, Maryland |
| 2020 | Wamecca Rodriguez | Yorkville Middle School Yorkville, Illinois |
| 2020 | Shawna Ward | Lindbergh High School St. Louis, Missouri |
| 2019 | Wendy Carrington | Northeast Bradford Jr./Sr. High School Rome, Pennsylvania |
| 2019 | Melissa Cortese |
Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School Buffalo, New York |
| 2019 | Amanda Jones | Live Oaks Middle School Watson, Louisiana |
| 2019 | Lori Quintana | Griffin Middle School Smyrna, Georgia |
| 2019 | Anne Reis | Homewood Center Ellicott City, Maryland |
| 2018 | Kelly DeLeon | Sussex Central High School Georgetown, Delaware |
| 2018 | Claudine Dixon | Greece Arcadia High School Rochester, New York |
| 2018 | Michelyne Gray | Cherry Creek High School Greenwood Village, Colorado |
| 2018 | Justine Kay | Benjamin Franklin Intermediate School Daly City, California |
| 2018 | Jeff Treistman | Denny International Middle School Seattle, Washington |
| 2017 | Jillian Ehlers | Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School Forest Hills, New York |
| 2017 | Susan Kowalski | Pine Grove Middle School East Syracuse, New York |
| 2017 | Laura Long | Highland School of Technology Gastonia, North Carolina |
| 2017 | Paul McIntosh | Wadleigh Campus Library New York, New York |
| 2017 | Debbie Mortensen | Classical Magnet School Hartford, Conneticutt |
| 2016 | Julie Abeska | West Bloomfield High School West Bloomfield Township, Mich. |
| 2016 | Catherine Andronik | Brien McMahon High School Norwalk, Conn. |
| 2016 | Sara Frey | Plymouth Whitemarsh High School Plymouth Meeting, Pa. |
| 2016 | Leigh Graham | West Rowan High School Mount Ulla, N.C. |
| 2016 | Beth van Kan | Graham Park Middle School Triangle, Virginia |