Who is eligible to apply for grants?

The call is open to applicants from the following countries where either eIFL.net has a presence or the foundation's Global Libraries initiative supports projects: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, People's Republic of China, Colombia, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Palestine (West Bank and Gaza), Poland, Guatemala, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

What kind of institutions may apply?

The call is open to public libraries.Other organizations can apply in partnership with the public library to develop innovative services for and by the public library.

What do we mean by ‘innovative’?

Innovative can mean that the service the project develops meets the following criteria:

• Is completely new;

• Has never been done in this place before;

• Never focused on this target group before;

• Was never done in this partnership before;

• Was never done properly before [say why]; or

• Never used technology (or a particular kind of technology) before.

Examples of innovative library services might focus on improving health care, personal and economic development, agricultural practices, employment, communication, government services, or civic engagement. A public library might suggest a program to reach out to children ‘hanging out’ in the train station after school by opening a branch there and engaging them with ICT training or the creation of content of interest to them. Another library might propose to use technology to improve the availability of legal information relevant to an ethnic minority and partner with a law firm to offer legal consultation and advice. Other innovative approaches in helping citizens to cope with and improve their everyday lives are encouraged.

What do we mean by ‘technology’?

We are open to ideas that deploy computers, access to the Internet, mobile phones and other mobile devices, web2.0 tools, and any software applications that enable the development of these new services and outreach to the community.

Applicants are required to

• implement and document a community needs assessment in order to demonstrate the need they are trying to address (See Tip sheet Needs Assessment);

• show the feasibility of addressing community needs through services that make use of technology in libraries;

• describe why and how the idea proposed will address the community’s needs in an innovative way;

• build partnerships (See FAQ - How to choose the appropriate partners);

• actively promote the new service and share lessons learned.

Eligible project expenses

The program will cover all project-related expenses except construction or reconstruction costs, or expenses incurred before the grant agreement is signed. Funds for collection development (print and/or e-resources) can be requested if related directly to the project goals.

SELECTION CRITERIA

A selection committee will review grant applications. Applications will be evaluated according to five criteria:

1. Innovation

The service is new for the community or focused on a target group never served before, demonstrates new alignments or partnerships, uses new organizational, programmatic or promotional approaches.

2. Community need

The project addresses a recognized community need with a viable, innovative solution.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

1. Applications must be written in English.
2. Please include a page number and the name of your organization in the footer of each page of the "Grant application" form.
3. Applications must be signed by an authorized representative of the organization.
4.  Application package should include:

•     Completed "Grant application.” Application form can be downloaded here.

•      A letter of intent from each partner confirming the organization’s interest in and commitment to the project.

•      A supporting letter from local/regional or national authorities.

• Applications should be submitted by e-mail to: plip[at]eifl.net. In case of connectivity problems applications submitted by fax or sent by post will be accepted.

     Postal address:  eIFL.net, Piazza Mastai 9, 00153 Rome

     Italy,    Fax: +39 06 5807246

6. In order to avoid errors and incomplete information, we encourage applicants to complete the following steps before submitting an application:

1.      Read and understand the eligibility and selection criteria.
2.      Fill out and sign the "Grant application" form. Signature page could be scanned and added as attachment.
3.      Include the required attachments.

7. The application package must be received by the deadline of 18:00 (Rome/Italy time), February 28, 2010. This applies to all forms of submission.

8. An e-mail help desk will be available during the period the call for proposals is open. Feel free to contact us at plip[at]eifl.net. The communication language is English.