Application Program Guidelines

(aussi disponible en français)

There was one deadline for this program (September 30, 2009).  Successful applicants were announced in December 2009.

All libraries are eligible to apply for support under either one of these programs – Services for Under-Served Groups or IT Support/Training. Applicants are eligible to receive funding for one project at a time.

Ineligible Items

• Hospitality
• Ongoing operating costs or overhead
• Capital expenditures for repair, rehabilitation or expansion of facilities
• Initiatives already underway

Peer Review
SOLS and OLSN will convene a peer review panel to review and rank all applications. The panel will assess applications and recommend projects and level of funding. Applications may be funded in whole or in part.

Timelines
Application deadline is:

• September 30, 2009

Applications must be received at SOLS (111 Peter Street, Suite 902, Toronto ON M5V 2H1) no later than 5:00 p.m. on the deadline date.

Reimbursement
Libraries submit the Application Program and Education Fund Reimbursement Request Form quarterly to SOLS. Items should be linked to the approved budget with appropriate back-up attached.

Additional Provisions
Libraries are required to make any products developed through these programs available to other libraries.

Category:       Services for Under-Served Groups

Purpose of the Program
To identify needs of target groups in the community, develop service models and implement pilot projects.

Eligible Items

• Research to identify needs and develop service models
• Implementation of pilot programs and services (including hiring of staff or extension of staff hours specifically for this project)
• Start-up costs for new programs or services

Application Process
Libraries submit a description of their proposed project addressing the following:

• Target group(s)
• Description of the project and the need being addressed (including evidence that it is an under-served group)
• Planned outcomes (what good for what people)
• Evidence of the library’s ability to manage the project
• Plans for sustainability at the end of the grant period or indication of how you will prove the concept and make the case locally for ongoing funding
• Timelines
• Measurement Criteria (Libraries must identify the specific group(s) they are targeting and indicate the measurement criteria they will use (e.g., library usage by target groups). We will need baseline data (i.e. figures prior to using this funding) as well as data from a reasonable period afterwards)
• Budget (The budget should include a clear indication of the grant requested, any library contributions and other funding)  Note: To calculate the budget for travel by car, use 40 cent/km.

Post Project Report
All funds should be expended within one year of confirmation of the grant. A post project report will be due no later than March 31, 2011 and preferably within three months of completing the project. Post Project Reports must include a description of the project, how you used the funds, budget reconciliation and project results including measurement criteria. A final Application Program and Education Fund Reimbursement Request Form should accompany this report.

Category:       IT Support/Training 

Purpose of the Program
To encourage libraries to collaborate in order to manage ongoing IT planning, support and training for a maximum of two years. (Each project must have two or more library systems working collaboratively).

Eligible Items

• Salary and benefits of contract employee or fees for an independent contractor
• Travel expenses for contract employee or independent contractor
• Travel for one librarian from each partnering library to attend not more than eight meetings over two years
• Laptop and printer for contract employee

Application Process
Libraries submit a description of their proposed project addressing the following:

• Description of the project including key tasks to be performed by the contract employee or independent contractor.
• Identification of the lead applicant
• List of participating libraries
• Planned outcomes (what good for what people)
• Evidence of the need for technical support
• Evidence of libraries’ resources available to manage and implement project
• Plans for sustainability at the end of the grant period or indication of how you will prove the concept and make the case locally for ongoing funding
• Timelines
• Measurement Criteria (Libraries must identify specific outcomes for the project and how these will be measured)
• Budget (The budget should include a clear indication of the grant requested, any library contributions and other funding) Note: To calculate the budget for travel by car, use 40 cent/km.

Post Project Report
All funds should be expended within two years of confirmation of the grant. A post project report will be due no later than June 30, 2012 and preferably within three months of completing the project. Post Project Reports must include a description of the project, how you used the funds, budget reconciliation and project results including measurement criteria. A final Application Program and Education Fund Reimbursement Request Form should accompany this report.