LSTA Disability Grants
I. Introduction
The State Library of Ohio is pleased to announce the availability of LSTA funds targeted at services to the disabled.
The State Library of Ohio has worked closely with a fifteen member Advisory Council, which is broadly representative of the Ohio library community, to develop a Five–Year Plan (2003–2007) for the use of LSTA funds in Ohio. This grant program specifically addresses Goal 5 of the Plan, which states: "Target library services to people of diverse geographic, cultural, and socio–economic backgrounds, to individuals with disabilities and to people with limited functional literacy or information skills. In Ohio, Goal 5 will focus on services to the underserved, with particular emphasis on the mildly disabled and Ohio's growing diverse population."
In the fall of 2003, the State Library began working with a Services to the Disabled Task Force, comprised of librarians and others who work with the disabled. This task force has been charged with assisting the State Library in the development of this grant program.
II. Grant Program
The Services to Persons with Disabilities grant program will focus on internal library services that will provide access to information resources to persons with disabilities. Funds may be used for equipment, training, and/or marketing and promotion. In order to receive LSTA funds under this program a library must submit, in conjunction with the funding proposal, an approve–able plan for providing library services to the disabled.
III. Criteria
The LSTA grants process is a competitive one. Funded projects will be selected on the basis of:
- The library's plan for providing services to the disabled which:
- a) Indicates involvement by other community agencies that work with the disabled.
- b) Indicates involvement by the disabled in the community.
- c) Includes a strong marketing plan, targeting places and organizations which serve the disabled.
- There is a congruency between the plan and the request for funds.
IV. Eligibility Requirements
Public libraries must be eligible to receive Local Library and Government Support Funds (LLGSF).
School libraries must be located in a school that is accredited by the state.
Academic libraries must be part of an accredited institution of higher learning.
Special libraries must be willing to share their resources.
V. Programmatic Guidelines
Personnel and fringe benefit costs are non–allowable expenses in the program budget.
Food is a non–allowable expense in the budget.
No overhead charges or contingency funds will be approved in program budgets submitted by libraries or other agencies applying for a grant for their own purposes; however, an administrative fee is allowable to a library acting as a fiscal agent on behalf of a group of libraries. This fee shall not exceed 4%.
A financial match of 25% of the total project cost is required from the institution. In–kind contributions do not qualify as match. For example, if the total project cost is $32,000, the federal request would be $24,000 and the local match would be $8,000. For a project total of $12,000, the federal portion would be $9,000 and the local portion would be $3,000.
Individual proposals may not exceed a request of $24,000 in federal funds.
All local matching funds must be available and committed at the time of signing the contract with the State Library of Ohio.
VI. Format
The Plan for Services to Persons with Disabilities should be clearly outlined and the LSTA Project/Budget must relate directly to the Plan for Services and address one or more of the goals/objectives stated in the Plan.
To qualify for review, applications must conform to the following:
- Be no more than 4 pages in length for the Plan with no more than an additional 2 pages for the LSTA request.
- Be in a font size no smaller than 12.
- Be signed by the appropriate administering official. A scanned, faxed or mailed cover sheet signed by the library administrator must be received by the State Library within three days of the proposal's submission. A sample cover sheet can be found at http://winslo.state.oh.us/publib/lstatitle.html.
VII. Elements in the Plan for Services to Persons with Disabilities
The Plan for Services to Persons with Disabilities will build upon the library's strategic plan by adding objectives of special interest to people with disabilities. Based on identified community needs, the Plan will guarantee that library services are available to everyone, attract people with disabilities to the library, and position the library as an information access point for persons with disabilities (from: Reah Rubin, Planning for Library Services to People with Disabilities, ASCLA, 2001).
Parts of the Plan:
- Community Assessment: Indicate the population of people with disabilities in the community.
- Planning Committee: Indicate that you have formed a planning committee. Your Planning Committee should be comprised of library staff, persons from organizations/service agencies that serve/work with the disabled, and representatives from the disabled population. The Planning Committee will assist you in addressing the following questions:
- Why don't the disabled in the community use the library?
- What services would the disabled like the library to provide?
- What services does the library feel it can provide?
- What resources are required to provide services to the disabled in the community?
- Goals and objectives: As goals and objectives are developed the following must be kept in mind:
- Staff time
- Specialized skills or expertise required
- Books and other materials needed
- Technology or equipment needed
- Facility space requirements
- Will the library work to achieve goals/objectives by partnering with another agency or organization? The State Library strongly encourages libraries to collaborate and partner with other agencies and organizations that work with the disabled.
- Can the library assist another agency or organization in addressing a particular goal or objective?
- Does the goal/objective truly address a need articulated by the Planning Committee.
- Activities/Implementation
- What purchases are required to fulfill each of the stated goals/objectives?
- If equipment is required, what tech support is available?
- What training will be required for staff and customers?
- Promotion and Marketing: How and where will the new services be marketed? An approve–able plan must include a strong promotion and marketing section. Promotion of library services should be through agencies and media that currently provide services to the disabled and should be in a format accessible to the disabled.
All plans must include a statement on digital website access for the disabled.
VIII. Elements to be included in the LSTA Funding Request
- Relation to Services to the Disabled Plan: Which goal/objective of your Services to Persons with Disabilities Plan does the funding request address and why was this particular one selected? Your selection should be based on the following criteria: which activities best mesh with the overall library strategic plan; which are most like to draw in new users; which build in staff interests; which have the best chance of successful completion; which will have adequate sustainability.
- Target Population: Which segment of the disabled population is being targeted by this funding request and why was this group chosen?
- Program Objectives/Activities: Indicate what you would like to accomplish through this program. Your objectives should address one or more of the following categories: Knowledge, Skill, Attitude or Behavior, and should relate directly to a goal or objective of your Services to Persons with Disabilities Plan.
- Evaluation: Indicate how you will know if the program objectives are being met and if you are successfully implementing the goals of the Services to Persons with Disabilities plan. The evaluation should focus on the impact the library is having on reaching out and providing services to the disabled in the community.
- Funding Justification: Indicate how the funding will assist you in reaching the target population and addressing the program objectives.
- Budget: Provide a budget breakdown of federal and local funds. Funds can be used in one or more of the following areas:
- Equipment and/or assistive technologies
- Providing digital website access
- Training for staff and/or patrons
- Marketing and promotion
- Specialized reading materials for those with disabilities
If the budget includes equipment, bid specs must be included.
IX. Review Process
Each Plan and Funding Request will be reviewed by three reviewers. Reviewers will be selected based on their experience in working with those with disabilities. Each reviewer will recommend approval or non–approval of the Plan and the Funding Request. Applicants must receive at least two favorable reviews for both the Plan and the Funding Request in order to be considered for funding.
X. General Information
All Library Services to Persons with Disabilities Plans and LSTA Funding Requests should be emailed to Missy Lodge at mlodge@sloma.state.oh.us
Questions regarding the planning process or the funding requests should be addressed to Missy Lodge at mlodge@sloma.state.oh.us or 800–686–1532 or 614–644–6914.
All proposals must be received by 5:00 p.m. December 12, 2008.
Funded proposals will begin April 1, 2009.