REPORT TO LIBRARY BOARDS

From: Vandella Brown, Diversity Program Manager

Illinois State Library

I am unable to meet with you this month due to ISL planned business. I submit this report for May 23, 2005 in my absence. Hope youíre enjoying all the prairie wind and rain Spring brings.

General Report from the Illinois State Library:

• Budget. The ISL budget is expected to be flat funding for grants in 2006.

• Annual Reports from Library Systems: July 11-22, 2005 is scheduled for annual reports from the regional library systems. The annual report will take place in person with the director and board president in attendance. Comments from last yearís reviews have been sent to the system directors.

• NEW SYNERGISTS

2005 Synergy Library Leadership Initiative sponsored by the State Library and the Illinois Library Association. Synergy is the statewide library community's proactive movement to recruit and nurture future Illinois library leaders. Second session will be August 9-11, Pere Marquette Lodge, Grafton; and November 15-17, Hickory Ridge Marriott Conference Hotel, Lisle.

• Per Capita Grants and School have been and checks should follow within the next 6 to 8 weeks. The grants for $14 millions are provided at $1.29 per capita. School Per Capita have not been processed due to some technological difficulties.
• Grants News:
• ISL Diversity Program will partner in the Changing Face of Medicine grant Exhibit with the Southern Illinois School of Medicine, Passavant Areas Hospital and St. Johnís Hospital to promote the exhibit. The traveling exhibit celebrates the contributions of Americaís women physicians, with a special focus on minority women doctors. The exhibit is schedule for March 31-May 13, 2010.

… Penney Severn Grant to Lincoln Trail Library System Members

Urban League of Champaign County Champaign $4,800.00

Urbana Schools Adult Education Urbana $4,350.00

• ISL Diversity Program workshop, Empowering Library Staff to Meet the Technology Needs of Spanish Speakers will be held May 23, 2005 at Alliance Library System, Vandella Brown, Diversity Program Director, Tammy Dobonye, Beardstown Public Library, June 14, 2005 at MLS- Chicago Office, Elizabeth Crane, Round Lake Area Library, and Hector Marino, Des Plaines Public Library will present 10 workshops throughout the state. Contact Sharon Layne 217-557-0136 to register.

• Literacy Grant: Final figures are now in on applications for Fiscal year 2006 Illinois State Library Adult Literacy Grants. 220 requests for grants were submitted by 139 different agencies.

• LSTA 4.1 million this year in grants in: Intent- Due June 1 and proposal June 17, 2005

This year's four categories are:

--CUOL: Creative Use of Libraries-the emphasis here is for applicants to be "creative, new and innovative". The maximum grant award is $150,000.

--Libraries Leading the Way Through Partnerships-applicants must partner with another entity and address a need in one of thee following areas: diversity, emerging populations, training for library staff and administration, strategic planning and demonstration of library services. The maximum award is $75,000.

--Digital Imaging-these grants are awarded for digitization of Illinois related historical and cultural materials, with an emphasis this year on materials related to Native Americans. Grants range from $5,000 to $20,000.

--Weed and Feed-With an emphasis on collection development and resource sharing, recipients could receive a grant of between $400 and $4,000. At least 50 per cent of materials purchased must be in print format. Materials in the Dewey Decimal System and Library of Congress categories that must be targeted are: General Knowledge, Philosophy and Psychology; Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Technology and Medicine and Agriculture (LOC only).

IMPORTANT NOTE: The State Library's website is the official posting of grant offerings, and all applicants will be held accountable to requirements posted on the ISL website. While we understand the desire to post offerings on your own individual sites, if there are errors or omissions in your postings the ISL will not deviate from the requirements and guidelines as they are posted on our website.

Look for a few new and changes:

-Letter of Intent for the grant

- Only one grant per agency, RLS exemptions from some grant categories

- CIPA explanation for computers required

- No page limit

- Minimum amount of grant off most grants

- Can underwrite cost of grant

Meetings, Scholarships and Conferences:

ILA Conference October 11-15, 2005 Peoria, IL

June 5-10- Small Public Library Management Institute, UIS- Springfield

June 12-17- Institute for School and public Librarians- Bradley Univ. Peoria

June 23-29- American Library Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL

Sept 26-29- Thinking Outside the Borders Leadership Retreat, Selection notification June 15.

Reminders: Join Reaching Forward-South listserve by sending email to rfslist-subscribe@reachingforwardsouth.org