The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) is accepting applications for its Public Library Innovation Grants program. ICMA is a professional educational organization for chief-appointed managers, administrators, and assistants that are located in cities, towns, and counties. The Public Library Innovation Grants focus on using the public library as a tool to address community priorities and issues. The grant program will provide a series of leadership workshops and project coaching to ensure the short-term success of the project and secure support for the long-term use of libraries in addressing community goals.

 

The Innovation Grants will be anchored by a partnership between the office of the chief administrative officer (city, county, and town manager) or elected official and the public library. A series of leadership workshops and project coaching will support grantees in solidifying the manager/librarian partnership, ensuring the short-term success of the project, and developing the capacity to support the long-term use of libraries to meet community goals. The ICMA will provide 8–12 grants to cities, towns, and counties that are committed to using their public library as a vital tool in addressing community priorities and issues in a unique, non-traditional manner. Individual grants will range from $20,000 to $60,000 and be 18 months in length. There is no requirement for being an ICMA community or having a town manager to be eligible for the grant.

 

If you have any questions about the ICMA Public Library Innovation Grants, contact Molly Donelan at (202) 962-3645 or mdonelan@icma.org. The deadline to apply is Jan. 9, 2009. Awards will be announced in February 2009. More information is available on the Innovation Grant Webpage.