Securing grant money through collaborative partnerships — special report

CHICAGO — “Grant Money through Collaborative Partnerships,” a timely special report published by ALA Editions, offers an abundance of practical advice and encouragement for using a novel approach to secure additional funding for libraries. As information and research centers, libraries can support a huge variety of grant-funding initiatives outside their own purview. Cultural centers, businesses and educational institutions are untapped resources for library funds. What's more, many libraries may find that collaborating on a grant application with another organization is preferable to going forward with a time-consuming application of their own. But finding the right collaborative partner and securing a place at its development table can be challenging. Drawing on her extensive experience as a grant developer and library director, author Nancy Kalikow Maxwell:

• Presents an overview of grant basics, with extensive lists of both online and print resources;
• Suggests how to frame libraries’ research capabilities as benefits to the community at large, transforming these capabilities into a revenue source;
• Explores strategies for locating potential partners, with tips on approaching collaborators and establishing successful relationships;
• Describes what libraries can ask for from the grant developer, making sure to include what they want in the grant proposal.

In her 30-year library career, Maxwell has participated in successful grant projects totaling more than 10 million dollars, with more than 1 million of those dollars flowing directly to the library. Formerly library director at Miami Dade College and Barry University, Maxwell currently owns and operates Kaliwell, Inc., a grant development company that specializes in locating, writing and evaluating grants for libraries and other educational organizations. Maxwell has been published in the National Catholic Reporter, Jewish Forward, Lilith, Moment and many other periodicals. Her library publishing credits include “Sacred Stacks: The Higher Purpose of Libraries and Librarianship” and, as a contributor, “Writing and Publishing: The Librarian’s Handbook" and “Librarians as Community Partners: An Outreach Handbook,” with ALA Editions. A frequent contributor to American Libraries magazine, she has also authored two ALA TechSource Library Technology Reports.

ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide. ALA Editions publishes resources used worldwide by tens of thousands of library and information professionals to improve programs, build on best practices, develop leadership, and for personal professional development. ALA authors and developers are leaders in their fields, and their content is published in a growing range of print and electronic formats. Contact ALA Editions at (800) 545-2433 ext. 5418 or editionsmarketing@ala.org.