*Please note:
Funding is not available for TexTreasures grants during fiscal
year 2004. No TexTreasures grants will be awarded during these
fiscal years.
Please check this Web page regularly
to see when funding is again available. In the interim, we encourage
you to explore other potential funding sources.
A list of links to funding
sources for libraries, including possible funding sources
for digitization projects, is available.
For more information, please contact
our TexShare Coordinator at 512-463-0188 or texshare@tsl.state.tx.us
Eligibility
Academic libraries, public libraries and libraries of clinical
medicine that have been certified as meeting the TexShare membership
requirements for the fiscal year in which the grant is awarded
are eligible. A member library may apply on behalf of a group
of member libraries in a cooperative project, or for funding of
the library portion of a project including other libraries or
organizations.
Fundable activities
Applicants may propose projects designed to increase accessibility
through a wide range of activities such as organizing, cataloging,
indexing, and digitizing local materials. This grant program will
fund project related costs such as:
- staff or contracted
services costs for organizing, cataloging, indexing, or digital
conversion of materials;
- charges for updating
shared bibliographic database records;
- central processing
units (CPUs) and associated peripherals, storage devices, telecommunications
devices and software necessary to provide storage and access
for digitized materials;
- supply costs necessary
to provide storage and access;
- indirect and audit
costs;
- travel necessary
to organize materials directly associated with the grant.
This grant program will not fund: building construction or renovation;
food, beverages or gifts; equipment or technology not specifically
needed to provide services to meet the project goals; transportation/travel
for participants (other than project staff or contractual personnel);
programs to enhance service at a single location.
Awards
A total of $100,000 is available for grants from State funds.
The maximum grant awarded will be $20,000. Each applicant must
expend an amount from local funds at least equal to 30% of the
total budgeted project costs which are eligible grant costs.
Award period
The award will be funded for up to 12 months beginning September
1, 2003 and ending August 31, 2004.
Criteria
for awards
A peer review panel will score proposals on the following six
criteria:
Significance of the collection
The overall purpose of the grant is to make needed materials available
for use by as many as possible, no matter where they are located.
In order to make the most of limited funding, those projects which
make the rarest materials available should be funded first.
Please ask yourself:
- Does this project focus on materials about Texas?
- Will the materials be useful to users at institutions throughout
Texas?
- Is the collection unique, or unique for a geographic region?
- Will the project provide an "advancement
of knowledge" rather than cleaning up general backlogs?
Availability
Although in some cases it is useful to a researcher to know merely
that an item exists, in most cases he or she needs to be able
to see the document. How will access to the collection be provided?
The bibliographic records must be available either through OCLC
or the Internet. Will materials themselves be available through
an Internet connection, through inter-library loan, through reciprocal
borrowing, or on-site use?
Project Design
Applicants should demonstrate that they have done the necessary
planning to carry out the project effectively.
- Is the project well
defined?
- Is it a discrete
project that can be completed within the grant period?
Cost Sharing
- What is the level of local funding available to share in project
costs?
- Are matching funds currently available?
- Are the matching funds higher than the required minimum?
Cost Effectiveness
How appropriate is the chosen materials (hardware, staffing and
so on) for the project, given the cost of the project?
Evaluation
How well has the applicant designed and described the methodology
to evaluate the project and estimate the level of usage?
Need Help?
Texas State Library and Archives Commission staff offers training
to library staff on effective grant writing and provides consulting
services for potential grant applicants. Contact Library Development
at (512) 463-5527.
Contact, TexShare Coordinator, Library Resource Sharing Division,
at (512) 463-0188 for specific information TexTreasure Grants.
