World on the Move: Project Guidelines

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Applications are now closed.

Application receipt deadline: November 14, 2022

Date application posted: October 10, 2022

Questions? Contact the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office at publicprograms@ala.org or (312) 280-5045.

Table of Contents

  1. Project Overview
  2. Award Information
  3. Eligibility
  4. Application and Submission Information
  5. Application Review
  6. Award Administration Information
  7. Contact Information

I. Project Overview

In partnership with the American Anthropological Association (AAA), the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office is seeking sites to host World on the Move: 250,000 Years of Human Migration, a national exhibition that aims to help people appreciate migration histories —their own and those of others —by drawing on a wealth of case studies from across human history and the breadth of cultures. The exhibition will travel to 15 sites. Public libraries located in the United States and territories are invited to apply.

The traveling exhibition is made possible through the support of the American Anthropological Association and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.

World on the Move will tour from March 2023 through August 2025. Selected libraries will host the exhibition for five to six weeks. Each site will receive a programming stipend of $500 to support public programs related to the exhibition.

The application will open on October 10, 2022 and be due no later than November 14, 2022. In advance, you may want to begin outreach to your potential community partners, including nearby colleges, museums, faith-based institutions, and cultural centers, to discuss possible programs and events to accompany the exhibition, if you are selected to host it. Examples include speaker programs, performing arts events, film screenings, town halls, or other activities that work well in your communities.

The World on the Move Exhibition

World on the Move: 250,000 Years of Human Migration aims to help people appreciate migration histories—their own and those of others—by drawing on a wealth of case studies from across human history and the breadth of cultures. The exhibition is organized according to four main questions:

  • Where do we come from?
  • Why do we move?
  • How does migration change us?
  • Where are we going?

Participants will explore responses to these questions through narrative and interactive displays. The target audience for World on the Move is middle school and high school-aged youth and their communities. Younger audiences may still enjoy the exhibition, but some of the concepts may need to be explained and adapted for their comprehension.

Physical Details

  • The exhibition requires approximately 1000 square feet of floor space for optimal display and the configuration is flexible.
  • The exhibition will require 3-4 people 8-12 hours to set up. No special tools are needed for installation beyond a step ladder.
  • Secure storage space for seven shipping containers is required (approx. 150 sq ft space or equivalent).
  • It consists of six modular display panels and one short-legged spinner-top table with interactive conversation prompts.

Orientation Workshop

There will be a virtual orientation workshop for hosting sites in February 2023, specific date TBD. The Project Director from each exhibiting library must attend this full-day session. The workshop will:

  • Review the exhibition’s content and learning objectives.
  • Offer tools and tips for audience engagement and marketing.
  • Explain programming support available from AAA and ALA.
  • Review and answer questions about the program evaluation plan and expectations, tools and processes.
  • Review a virtual walkthrough of the exhibition itself, including how to install and de-install it.
  • Provide time for peer networking and sharing programming ideas.

Support Materials

  • A detailed installation manual and instructional video will be available to guide the unpacking, installation, and repacking the exhibition for its next host destination.
  • An online Site Support Notebook will include programming, publicity, and resource and logistics information.
  • An online community discussion group on the ALA Connect platform will allow exhibiting libraries to share programming ideas and experiences.

Program Evaluation

Program evaluation will be reported by hosting sites in their final report, due 30 days after the completion of their exhibition display period, and will be supported by the project team from ALA, AAA, and Smithsonian Center of Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Below is a list of things to expect if your library is chosen to host the exhibition:

  • As you prepare for the exhibition: Attend the virtual orientation workshop and meet the members of the project team. You’ll hear more details about specific evaluation activities and meet other librarians working on the project.
  • Soon before the exhibition arrives: Participate in a call with other project directors, ALA and AAA staff prior to the arrival of the exhibition.
  • While you’re hosting the exhibition: You’ll be asking patrons for input and sharing their feedback with the project team to help improve the initiative. Together, we will use a range of methods to determine what patrons learn from the exhibition and from concurrent programs offered by your library.
  • Immediately after your hosting period ends: Members of your library staff will be asked to give feedback and record basic information about how you observed patrons interacting with the exhibition and related programs and materials. You’ll have all the necessary guidance in advance.

Requirements for Host Sites

All public libraries chosen to host World on the Move are required to do the following:

  • Sign a contract with the American Library Association agreeing to programming, publicity, evaluation, reporting and other project requirements.
  • Present a minimum of three public programs, events or activities related to the human migration themes explored in the exhibition. These may include an opening event for the exhibition and/or educational programs and activities offered in collaboration with community organizations, schools, universities, community colleges, nearby Smithsonian affiliate museums, or government agencies. The programs should be for different age groups, including one opening event. Any one of these programs may be combined with the opening event.
  • Market the exhibition and programs in the community.
  • Allow the public to view the exhibition and attend programs free of charge.
  • Provide two concise reports: an exhibition condition form and a final programming report. ALA will provide the necessary forms to be completed via the same online grants management platform used to apply for the exhibition.
  • Participate in the exhibition evaluation, as outlined above.
  • Appoint one staff member as the Project Director (local coordinator) of the exhibition. Project directors are required to attend a virtual exhibition orientation workshop in February 2023. The project director must oversee public program development and publicity, coordinate the planning of local programs and must be present to supervise the setting up and taking down of the exhibition.
  • Agree to all publicity requirements, including use of designated exhibition credits and/or logos on all local publicity materials, both print and online.
  • Show that the library has sufficient space to display the exhibition (approximately 1000 square feet in one area of the library, plus space to store the shipping crates) in an appropriate and safe environment and can have staff to monitor the exhibition at least every half-hour during peak times and every hour at less busy times.
  • Be responsible for the condition of the exhibition. Sites will be held responsible for damage to or loss of the exhibition when it is under their control. Minor repairs will be carried out and paid for by ALA.
  • INSURANCE: Each host library must add the exhibition to its institutional insurance coverage or purchase an insurance rider equivalent to the value of the exhibition ($205,000). The exhibition should be insured from ten days before the first day of the exhibition period to ten days after the closing date.

II. Award Information

Fifteen public libraries will be selected to host the exhibition for five to six weeks between March 2023 and August 2025. Each host will receive the following:

  • The traveling exhibition for a five- to six-week loan period (shipping costs are covered by the sponsors).
  • A $500 stipend for exhibition-related programming. Please note that these funds may not be used for computer hardware or to pay cash or cash-equivalent incentives (including gift cards and the like) to program participants.
  • An online Site Support Notebook, with shipping and installation instructions, suggestions for programming and a full publicity kit, including downloadable promotional materials and templates for press and social media outreach.
  • Technical and programming support from the ALA Public Programs Office throughout the tour.
  • Repair of reasonable wear and tear to the exhibition.

III. Eligibility

World on the Move is available to public libraries in the United States and territories. Other types of libraries, individuals, and federal entities are not eligible to apply.

IV. Application and Submission Information

Applications will be accepted October 10, 2022–November 14, 2022. Applications must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. Central Standard Time on November 14, 2022. Late or incomplete applications, and applications from ineligible institutions, will not be reviewed. Applications and support materials may not be submitted by mail or e-mail.

To begin the application process, go to ALA’s grants management platform. You can download a PDF of the application to review the questions ahead of time in order to prepare your answers, but the final application must be filled out and submitted via the grants management platform.

If you encounter problems interacting with our online grants management platform due to difficulties with assistive technologies, please contact publicprograms@ala.org or call 312.280.5045. Please also include information about the nature of your accessibility barrier so we can best provide support.

V. Application Review

Each eligible application will be assessed by a review panel of librarian peer reviewers, AAA staff and ALA staff. Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Clarity and completeness of the application. Has the applicant supplied all required information, including all sections of the proposal narrative?
  • The quality and variety of proposed programming to accompany the exhibition.
  • The availability of appropriate exhibition space, and the library’s ability to provide security for the exhibition.
  • The involvement of appropriate programming partners. Note: Selectors welcome and encourage programming collaborations; however, sending the exhibition to more than one venue in a community during the display period is prohibited.
  • The quality of the marketing and outreach plans, and the likelihood of engaging the target audiences in large numbers.

The panel may take geographic and demographic distribution into consideration when selecting exhibition sites.

VI. Award Administration Information

Application Deadline: November 14, 2022

Award Notification: By mid-December 2022

Orientation Workshop: February 10, 2023, 2:00-3:30 PM Central Time

Final Report Due: 30 days after completion of the exhibition display period.

VII. Contact Us

If you have questions about the exhibition or the application, contact:

American Library Association Public Programs Office

(312) 280-5045

publicprograms@ala.org