How to Write a Library Grant

No matter where you live or where your child goes to school, we all would love to have a well stocked library that is easy to use and nicely built. There are grants available out there for building and helping to maintain libraries. Writing a grant takes time and effort, but is well worth it when you get a check for your library.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Library statistics
• Budget information
• Community polls

1. Be aware of deadlines. The most important part of writing your library grant is to adhere to the deadlines. If you miss a deadline, you are out of luck. Grant committees get so many applications and have to weed out those that don't follow the guidelines. Another reason to watch the deadlines is to give yourself enough time to compile your information and actually write your grant.
2. Poll the community. A lot of the information needed for library grants has to do with what is already available to the community and school and how much it is used. Take surveys of your community or parents of school-aged children to find out how often they go the library or how interested they would be in having one nearby.
3. Know your current budget. Most library grants will ask you what your current budget is and how it is spent. They will also want to know how much you are requesting, or if the grant is a set amount, what you will be doing with the money you receive. Be prepared to answer questions on amount of books currently in your library and how often they are checked out.
4. Have a plan. Know what you will use the money for if you get the grant. Sit down with pen and paper in hand and pretend that you already have the money. Write down what you are going to spend it on and why. For example, tell the grant committee how your library has no children's fiction and the average age of your user is between five and ten years. Any information to back up your plan is very useful.
5. Get letters of recommendation. Ask prominent members of the community for letters recommending that you get awarded the grant. Talk to school principals, the mayor, the school board, school teachers and even clubs like Kiwanis.
6. Send in your grant. Using a checklist, make sure that you have everything required for the library grant. Turn in an application that is well thought out and neatly put together. Get the correct signatures, and send it in well in advance of the deadline.

Tips & Warnings

• If the idea of writing the grant is a little daunting, ask around to see if there is anyone in your library or school who is a good writer and would be willing to help you.

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