How To Apply for a Public Library Assistance Grant from the State Library February 28, 2015 Alaska Library Association Conference Juneau

Public Library Assistance Grant Library Services Required by Law 1. Purchase, maintain, and circulate library materials 2. Provide children’s programs 3. Provide reference service 4. Provide interlibrary loan service

Public Library Assistance Grant Library Schedule  Must be open on a regular schedule at least 48 weeks of the year and at least 3 days each week Library Hours Per Week  Public libraries must provide 5 or more hours of evening service (after 5 PM) and weekends  Combined libraries must provide at least 10 hours of service outside of school hours, including evenings (after 3 PM) and weekends

Public Library Assistance Grant Main Library Hours per Week  Fewer than 750 people 10 hours minimum  ,500 people 15 hours minimum  1, ,000 people25 hours minimum  3, ,000 people 40 hours minimum  10,000 or more people50 hours minimum Branch Library Hours Per Week  Fewer than 1,000 people15 hours minimum  1, ,000 people 20 hours minimum  More than 5,000 people25 hours minimum

Public Library Assistance Grant Collection Development  Spend a minimum of $3,500 of local or grant funds annually on library materials Grant Match  Must match 100% ($7,000) of the grant by providing a mix of either local funds and/or volunteer labor (grants from other entities can be included as local funds, i.e. IMLS Native American library basic grants can be counted as local funds for match)  Volunteer labor shall be valued at a rate of $22.00 an hour in towns of fewer than 750 people and $22.00 per hour in towns of more than 750 people  Libraries in the PLAG program as of FY2004 and afterwards may not ever lower the local cash contribution to the library, since this would supplant local funds with state funds

Public Library Assistance Grant Staffing Requirements  Trained staff (paid or volunteer) shall operate the library during all open hours  Library directors must attend one approved continuing education program every two years (At least 6 hours of classroom content and pertain to library management/services)  Library director must have a bachelor’s degree and library management experience or training in cities with 3, ,999 people  In cities with more than 6,000 people, the director shall have a master’s degree in library science

Public Library Assistance Grant Policies and Reports  Adopt and maintain a written collection development policy  Adopt and maintain a mission, goals, and objectives statement  Maintain an accurate accounting of its budget and expenditures  Submit a complete public library annual report, final grant report, and technology report  Submit minutes of at least quarterly library board meetings if library is operated as a nonprofit

12. Fair Value Rate for Volunteer Labor: If your library is claiming volunteer labor as part of the local match, please note the number of volunteer hours you expect to accrue during FY2016 and the hourly rate claimed. You may only claim up to the total number of hours that the library is open for the entire year. (For the hourly rate, see Personnel on page 6 in the enclosed packet. In FY2016, the hourly rate has increased substantially.) Total Volunteer Hourly Fair Value Rate for Hours: __________ times Rate: $__________ = Volunteer Labor $________

13. Every public library that receives the Alaska public library assistance grant is required by law to provide four basic library services. Please answer the following questions for each of these four required services, even if you do not plan to use grant funds for that service.

a. Provide a collection of books and other materials for loan – How will your library collections be increased or improved? What activities will you undertake to achieve your objectives? Will staff receive training in this service area? How will you evaluate improvements to your library collections? Please be specific. b. Provide access to interlibrary loan (ILL) services – How will ILL service be increased or improved? What activities will you undertake to achieve your objectives? Will staff receive training in this service area? Do you plan to use the 800# ILL and Reference Backup Service in Anchorage to provide ILLs to your patrons? (See box below.) How will you evaluate improvements to ILL services? Please be specific.

Did you know that the State Library gives the Anchorage Public Library a grant every year to provide you with interlibrary loan and reference backup services for your patrons? If you need help with ILL, call the helpful ladies at ! (Please do NOT give this number to your patrons. Only library staff or library volunteers may use this number.)

c. Provide reference services – How will reference services be increased or improved? What activities will you undertake to achieve your objectives? Will staff receive training in this service area? Do you plan to use the 800# ILL and Reference Backup Service in Anchorage to provide reference answers to your patrons? (See box below.) How will you evaluate improvements to reference services? Please be specific. d. Provide reading and/or educational programs for children – How will children’s programs be increased or improved? What activities will you undertake to achieve your objectives? Will staff receive training in this service area? How will you evaluate improvements to children’s programming? Please be specific.

Public Library Assistance Grant  Grant applications must be postmarked by April 1  You can request an extension of two weeks  Grant forms and information are at:  Need help? Contact Alex at or at