Courtesy of the Indiana Humanities Council
The Indiana Humanities Council recently announced that it is offering $30,000 to assist in disaster recovery efforts of Indiana cultural institutions and organizations affected by last month’s record breaking floods. Libraries, museums, colleges, universities, and other cultural and historical institutions in Indiana counties that have received designation as federal disaster areas are eligible to receive grants intended to ensure the survival of significant collections of our cultural heritage threatened by the floods. Funding was made available from the National Endowment for the Humanities, a federal agency.
Affected institutions may apply immediately for emergency grants of up to $3,000 to salvage, protect, and treat historical collections damaged by the flooding. Such collections may include manuscripts, historical records, art and artifacts, recorded sound, film and videotape, rare books, photographs, and other materials of cultural or historical significance.
Emergency grants may cover expenses for hiring preservation professionals to assess damage to collections and advise on treatment; removal of collections to climate-controlled storage; freeze-drying of wet, paper-based materials; purchase of fans, de-humidifiers, and salvage supplies; conservation treatment of collection materials; and similar preservation efforts.
How to Apply:
Please send the following information to Nancy Conner at the Indiana Humanities Council: – basic information such as name of institution or organization applying for funds; address; phone; email; contact person;
- an attached letter explaining the circumstances of the emergency;
- a simple budget indicating proposed use of grant funds for storm-related expenses not covered by other state and federal assistance or insurance payments; and
- identification of cash or in-kind sources of support available to help cover expenses in an amount equal to requested grant funds.
Applications for grants must be received by August 1, 2008 to be included in the first round of review and approval. A second round of grants will be awarded after a September 1, 2008 review.
Please call Nancy Conner, IHC Director of Grants, at 317-638-1500 ext. 128 or Jim Pavlik at ext. 125 with any questions or concerns.
NEH Grants
In addition to emergency grants made available to Indiana and three other Midwest states affected by June’s record flooding, the National Endowment for the Humanities is offering direct assistance for disaster recovery efforts to libraries, museums, colleges, universities, and other cultural and historical institutions in the Midwest affected by the recent flooding.
Affected institutions in federally designated disaster areas may apply immediately to the NEH for emergency grants of up to $20,000 to salvage, protect, and treat historical collections damaged by the flooding.
How to Apply to the NEH
Applicants should contact the Division of Preservation and Access by email or by telephone (202-606-8570) to describe the humanities collections at risk and the nature of the damage. The Division’s staff will guide prospective applicants in the preparation of a letter of request to NEH Chairman Bruce Cole.
GATES FOUNDATION GIVING LIBRARY GRANTS IN 11 STATES
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced plans to give $8.1 million in grants to keep library computers up-to-date in 11 states. The grants will help upgrade computer hardware in public libraries serving communities with high concentrations of poverty.
This is the second round of the Foundation’s “Opportunity Online” grants. More than 800 library branches in the 11 second-round states are eligible for the matching grants. The program requires a total local commitment of $4.1 million. The first round of computer hardware grants were awarded in October 2007. A third and final round is scheduled for 2009 which will include libraries in Indiana.
Four out of five libraries say they don’t have enough computers to meet community needs and 60 percent say they don’t have the money or space to add more public computers in the next year, according to a report based on a 2007 national survey by the Florida State University Information School and the American Library Association.
“Too many libraries struggle to offer the technology services that their communities need to thrive,” said Kate Nevins, executive director of SOLINET. “Opportunity Online will motivate libraries to do the hard work of building the personal relationships and public financial support required to ensure free computer access for people who need it most.”
The State Library will relay further directions and information about applying for the 2009 “Opportunity Online” grants as it is made available by the Gates Foundation.
WEBJUNCTION LAUNCHING NEW WEBSITE IN AUGUST; CURRENT ENROLLEES MUST FINISH CLASSES BY JULY 28TH
WebJunction in August will launch their new website featuring many additional capabilities. Please note, this change will impact their current course catalog. They are transitioning many course subjects to new continued education providers and adding hundreds on new courses featuring improved content, new topics, and easier to use formats to better serve library staff in the pursuit of learning goals.
Leading up to the launch of the new WebJunction website in August, WebJunction Indiana members, especially those currently enrolled in courses, should take note of the following information:
- The course catalog will be unavailable for one week starting July 28th and new enrollments were frozen June 21st.
- If you are currently enrolled in a course, you now have an additional two weeks to complete. Please finish your course and print your certificate by July 28th.
- NOTE: This does not apply to the facilitated courses, the University of North Texas LE@D courses, or the free webinars available.
- WebJunction members will be able to enroll in new courses after the launch of the new website.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact WebJunction at courses@webjunction.org.
SIGN UP TODAY FOR INLIBRARIES – A LISTSERV FOR ALL INDIANA LIBRARY PROFESSIONALS