ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline Volume 8, Number 2 January 6, 1999 In this issue: [1] IMLS Issues 1999 Guidelines for Native American Library Services and National Leadership Grants [2] Commerce Announces $17 Million in TIIAP Grants to be Awarded in 1999; Potential Applicants Encouraged to Participate in Regional Workshops [1] IMLS Issues 1999 Guidelines for Native American Library Services and National Leadership Grants The Institute of Museum and Library Services has issued application guidelines for two specific parts of the Library Services and Technology Act. The Native American Library Services program provides assistance for improved library services to meet the needs of Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages through basic library services grants, technical assistance grants, and enhancement grants. The application deadline is April 30, 1999. The National Leadership Grants provide an opportunity for libraries to address pressing needs in education, research, preservation, and information access. They also enable libraries and museums to work together to serve the public in new and more effective ways by expanding access to new audiences, responding collaboratively to community needs and implementing the most efficient and appropriate technologies. The application deadline is March 19, 1999. According to a December 18 IMLS press release: "In 1999 IMLS is undertaking a major initiative to prepare libraries and museums to meet the changing needs of learners in the 21st century. IMLS therefore encourages proposals that address this theme within the context of the funding priorities. Examples of potential projects in this area include applications of learning theory, educational uses of digital images, and the teaching of critical thinking skills. The four categories of competition are: education and training in library and information science, research and demonstration projects to improve library services, preservation or digitization of library resources, and model programs of cooperation between libraries and museums." For additional information contact IMLS's Giuliana Bullard or Mamie Bittner at 202-606-8339 or go the IMLS Web site at http://www.imls.fed.us/gdlns.html. Only PDF files may be used for submission. The PDF guidelines for Native American Library Services are located at http://www.imls.fed.us/guidelines/nag99applic.pdf; guidelines for the National Leadership Grants are located at http://www.imls.fed.us/guidelines/natlead.pdf. [2] Commerce Announces $17 Million in TIIAP Grants to be Awarded in 1999; Potential Applicants Encouraged to Participate in Regional Workshops On January 5 Commerce Secretary William M. Daley announced that approximately $17 million in grants will be awarded in 1999 to state, local, and tribal governments and non-profit entities as part of the Clinton Administration program to extend benefits of the Internet and other information technology to all Americans, especially those in inaccessible, rural and underserved urban communities, according to a press release. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration said it will launch the 1999 grant award competition and immediately begin accepting applications, which are due by March 11, 1999. Grant applicants are encouraged to develop projects of national significance which demonstrate how telecommunications and information technologies can be used to extend valuable services and opportunities to all Americans, especially the underserved. Projects funded so far include innovations in education and training, support for the creation of more responsive public institutions, enhancement of economic development in rural and disadvantaged areas, and increased public access to health care. The Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program is a highly-competitive, merit-based grant program, providing seed money for innovative, practical projects that use advanced telecommunications and information technology. The program, since its inception in 1994, has provided more than $118 million in matching grants. In FY98, five libraries were among the 46 recipients who received grants as part of partnerships with local organizations (see ALAWON, v7, n127, October 15, 1998, http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon/alwn7127.html). For more details on how to apply for the FY 1999 TIIAP grant round, see the FY99 application kit at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/tiiap/index.html. For a printed copy of the kit, send an e-mail to tiiap@ntia.doc or fax 202-501-5136 with your name, organization, mailing address, telephone number, and a request for a copy to be mailed via U.S. mail. NTIA will hold a series of free regional technical assistance workshops to discuss the TIIAP funding priorities, application requirements, and lessons learned from previous TIIAP grantees. The workshops will be held on January 21 in Portland, OR; January 26 in Albuquerque, NM; January 29 in Memphis, TN; February 3 in Boston, MA; and February 11 in Chicago, IL. Online registration and specific locations of the one-day workshops is available at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/tiiap/application/1999outreach.ht ml. TIIAP is administered by the U.S. Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration. NTIA serves as the principal adviser to the President, Vice President and Secretary of Commerce on domestic and international communications and information issues and represents the Executive Branch before the Congress, other Federal agencies, foreign governments and international organizations. ****** ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. To subscribe to ALAWON, send the message: subscribe ala-wo [your_firstname] [your_lastname] to listproc@ala.org or go to http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. To unsubscribe to ALAWON, send the message: unsubscribe ala-wo to listproc@ala.org or go to http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. ALAWON archives at http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. ALA Washington Office, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 403, Washington, D.C. 20004-1701; phone: 202.628.8410 or 800.941.8478 toll-free; fax: 202.628.8419; e-mail: alawash@alawash.org; Web site: http://www.ala.org/washoff. Editor: Lynne E. Bradley; Managing Editor: Deirdre Herman; Contributors: Phyllis Albritton, Mary Costabile, Adam Eisgrau, Carol Henderson, Peter Kaplan, Claudette Tennant and Rick Weingarten.