ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline Volume 8, Number 120 November 24, 1999 In this issue: [1] Attention Library Literacy Providers: Seven Million Dollars Available for Grants [2] OERI Announces Field-Initiated Research Grants Program [3] Federal Funding Info for Museums and Libraries: Just A Click Away [1] Attention Library Literacy Providers: Seven Million Dollars Available for Grants On November 17 the U.S. Department of Education announced in the availability of seven million dollars for English Literacy and Civics Education Demonstration Grants. The deadline for the receipt of proposals is January 18, 2000. The purpose of the program is to support projects that demonstrate effective practices in providing, and increasing access to, English literacy programs linked to civics education. Eligible applicants are postsecondary educational institutions, public or private organizations and agencies and consortia. Grants may be used to support a variety of activities and costs related to English language and civics education instruction, including the costs of staff and instructors, materials, staff training, and support services such as child care and transportation costs for program participants. Areas of particular interest include: -- projects that demonstrate successful partnerships with local agencies, organizations, or institutions such as institutions of higher education, community-based organizations and local education agencies in providing English literacy/civics education; -- projects that demonstrate effective innovative approaches in providing English literacy/civics instruction such as integrating technology into the curriculum, establishing work- or community- based instruction sites with flexible schedules of classes and services; -- projects that demonstrate strategies for professional development opportunities to help teachers develop networks, promote effective use of technology and develop content-based curricula linked to appropriate assessments; -- projects that demonstrate development of effective materials, such as curricula and assessment instruments that address emerging areas in English literacy/civics education such as preparation for citizenship interviews, naturalization process, life skills curricula, employability skills from a cross-cultural perspective and learning disabilities. The full description and application may be viewed at http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm or http://www.ed.gov/news.html . For further information check the November 17 Federal Register, v. 64, no. 221, pp. 62919-62941, or contact Rebecca Moak or Ursula Lord at the English Literacy/Civics Education Program, Division of Adult Education and Literacy, Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. S.W., Room 4428, Switzer Building, Washington, D.C. 20202-7240; 202-260- 9279. --Mary Costabile [2] OERI Announces Field-Initiated Research Grants Program On November 9 the U.S. Department of Education announced the availability of applications for Field-Initiated Studies Education Research grants as of December 9, 1999. The total amount available for the grants will be determined when the budget process is completed, but the Administration's request for the program was $10 million. Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education; State and local education agencies; public and private organizations, institutions, and agencies; and individuals. Topics of research and methods of study are determined by each applicant, but the research must be of national significance. Collaboration is encouraged in the conduct of the research. Application packages will be available by mail and from the following web sites: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OERI/FIS/ or http://www.ed.gov/GrantApps/ . For further information, contact Delores Monroe, Field-Initiated Studies Education Research Grants Program, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, 555 New Jersey Ave., N.W. Room 627, Washington, D.C. 20208-2229; (202) 219-2229. --Mary Costabile [3] Federal Funding Info for Museums and Libraries: Just A Click Away Note: The following is a November 12 press release from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. For more information call 202-606-8339 or Eileen Maxwell: emaxwell@imls.gov, Mamie Bittner: mbittner@imls.gov Washington, DC - Want to know about funding opportunities for your museum or library? Want to know how libraries and museums use federal funds to expand their services? There is a new site on the Internet designed especially for you. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) web site, at http://www.imls.gov, has been redesigned for easier navigation and better access to important agency information. It connects users to complete grant information, best practices, publications, and research, and it features new interactive tools, such as a map of grants by state and the IMLS electronic newsletter, The Primary Source. Beverly Sheppard, Acting Director of the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services said, "I am proud to launch our new on-line presence. For years we have supported the efforts of museums and libraries to expand access to their collections and programs through new technologies. Now, IMLS is leading by example with a newly organized and redesigned Internet site. The site provides instant access to agency grant information, and it serves as a hub for sharing best practices." The newly designed site is a valuable source of information for grant seekers. Applicants can retrieve all IMLS grant guidelines from the site (most in PDF format), as well as current application deadlines, grant announcements, sample narratives, lists of previous winners and grantee outreach resources. The site also makes it easier than ever for museum and library professionals to become grant reviewers. Museum and library professionals interested in the latest news and information from IMLS will be able to sign up for the agency's electronic newsletter, The Primary Source, through the new site. Sent automatically to subscribers' e-mail addresses, the monthly newsletter contains the latest agency news and links to new additions to the web site. In addition to serving museum and library professionals, the site will provide valuable information for members of the news media, Congressional staff and anyone who wants to learn how our nation's museums and libraries expand their services with federal funds. About the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) - Created by the Museum and Library Services Act of 1996, IMLS is an independent federal grantmaking agency that fosters leadership, innovation and a lifetime of learning by supporting the nation's 15,000 museums and 122,000 libraries. For more information, including grant guidelines, contact: Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20506, (202) 606-8536, or http://www.imls.gov . ****** 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. 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