The State Library Grant Processand How to Plan for Serving Multicultural Communities
byLena Pham
Library Programs ConsultantCalifornia State Library
Outline
• Pitch-an-Idea grants and how that can help you think about community need
• Ways to launch your project• Areas that libraries can target
to improve services to diverse communities
Participants will learn
about:
State Library LSTA Grant
Define Community Need
1. Assess need for project
2. What does success look like
3. Tell a story
Examples…
• Pew surveys http://www.pewresearch.org/topics/libraries/
• Library stats• Californialibrarystatistics.com • Federal Public Library Survey
http://www.imls.gov/research/data_collection.aspx
• Journals and studies• LibraryJournal, thedigitalshift.com, etc.
Cite statistics
Launch Your Project
1. Figure out what you need
2. Look at your assets
3. Partner up
Examples…
• Salaries & Benefits• Library Materials• Equipment• Contracted Services• Supplies• Other Charges• In-kind or cash contribution
Project budget
breakdown
Areas for Targeting Service
1. Educating staff
2. Library services
3. Community building
Educating staff
Training workshopsHire staff who reflect
your demographic when possible
Leadership needs to set the tone
Library services
Programming
Collection development
Website development
Signage
Library resources
Sonoma County Library’s “E-Reader Tutorials” https://www.youtube.com/user/sonomalibrary
St. Helena Public Library’s “Bilingual Cross-Organizational Aggregate Events Calendar”
napavalleynow.com & napavalleyhoy.com
Community building
Get involved
with local community
Connect with
community leaders
Show upBring your services to
them
Examples…
References• Online Day of Diversity Forum on 2/24/15, provided by the
Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) – http://www.ala.org/alsc/onlinedayofdiversityforum
• “Embracing a Rich Diversity: Promoting diversity among patrons and staff” by Shamika Dalton (AALL Spectrum Feb 2015 v.19:4 p.8-9)– http://www.aallnet.org/mm/Publications/spectrum/Archives/Vol-19/No
-4
• LSTA Pitch-An-Idea Grant – http://www.library.ca.gov/grants/lsta/apply.html
• “10 (or so) Tips on Grants, LSTA and Making a Successful Pitch” by Rancho Cucamonga Public Library– https://infopeople.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=45
