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Giuliana Bullard, gbullard@imls.gov
IMLS Awards $10.5 Million in Sparks and National Leadership Grants
Washington, DC - Today the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded 44 grants, totaling $10,545,493, through three key library and museum grant programs.
The funds are being awarded through the IMLS National Leadership Grants for Museums Program, the National Leadership Grants for Libraries Program, and the Sparks! Ignition Grants for Libraries Program.
“These recipients represent the best of the best,” said IMLS Director Dr. Kathryn K. Matthew. “The grantees’ projects were selected from a competitive pool of proposals and rose to the top of our rigorous peer-review process. Their leading-edge work will provide fresh ideas for the museum and library fields and will lead to better programs and services for all served by these valued institutions.”
National Leadership Grants for Libraries (NLG-L) and for Museums (NLG-M) support projects that address challenges faced by the library, archive, and museum fields. They have the potential to advance the library, archival, and museum practice with new tools, research findings, models, services, or alliances that can be widely replicated.
The NLG-L program received 85 preliminary applications. Nineteen full proposals were invited, and 15 grants were made during this second 2016 cycle. The library grants total $5,017,937 and will be matched with $1,571,008 of non-federal funds. See the list of 2016 Cycle Two National Leadership Grants for Library awards (PDF, 397 KB).
The NLG-M program received 60 applications. Thirteen museum grants were made, totaling $5,185,106. The grants will be matched with $4,761,168 in non-federal funds. See the 2016 National Leadership Grants for Museum awards.
Sparks! Ignition Grants for Libraries provide opportunities to expand and test the boundaries of library and archive services and practices. Sparks! grants support the deployment, testing, and evaluation of promising and groundbreaking new tools, products, services, or organizational practices. The Sparks program received 54 applications and awarded 16 grants, totaling $342,450. Grantees will match the awards with $177,429 in non-federal funds. See the 2016 Sparks! Ignition Grants for Libraries awards.
About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.