Library Grant Opportunity

Grant Opportunity for Innovation

Sparks Ignition Grants are due to the Institute of Museum and Library Services by February 2, 2015. These small grants of $10,000 to $25,000 are to encourage libraries and archives to test and evaluate specific innovations. They can support deployment, testing and evaluation of promising and groundbreaking new tools, products, services or organizational practices. Identified problems should be relevant to many libraries and include significant innovation. For more information go to their website and sign up for the webinar on Tuesday, January 6, at 4 pm ET.

Want to know more about IMLS 2015 grant opportunities, read their guide.

We have no idea of what might be considered innovative in the context of adult literacy and libraries, but here are some ideas to help you start thinking

• Set up a reading better program targeting adult learners who want to be entrepreneurs or who run their own small business. Provide space in your library for their "virtual" office. Provide volunteers and staff to help them learn to read better while establishing their business

• Find unusual partners, funeral homes, car dealerships, bars and others to recruit volunteer tutors.Take pictures with the staff and ask them to post the pictures with information about your library literacy program on THEIR web page.

• Develop a tutor training program using smart phones and apps as the technology students and tutors could use for adult basic education lessons.

• Provide cooking classes for adult learners where they learn to read better by reading recipes and cooking together. Publish a local cookbook with lessons. Have students take their baked goods to your county commision meeting to thank them for funding your adult literacy program. As part of the program, loan out cooking utensils, recruit chiefs to be involved, partner with local farmers and more.
  
  
  If you have ideas you consider innovative, share them in comments on our blog.