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Guidelines and Application Form
At a Spring 2003 meeting, the Board of the Friends of the WMU Libraries approved
setting up a Library Staff Development Fund. With this Development Fund, the
Board wants to help, in a modest way, Library Staff cover some expenses for activities
involved in professional development.
The activities may be research-oriented,
job-oriented, pedagogical, or creative (see Number 3 in the Criteria for Selection). Some
examples would include: attending professional meetings, conferences, and workshops;
purchase of books, software, and audio-visual equipment and materials; setting
up a program or performance; setting up extra-mural programs and demonstrations
in K-12 schools.
Grant Application
ELIGIBILITY: All Staff of the WMU Libraries may apply, either
as individuals or in small cooperative groups. Funds are not awarded for
projects that have already been completed.
GRANTS: Grants of up to $400 may be applied for. A total
of $2,000 may be awarded to Library Staff during the current fiscal year. Applications
may be made at any time, but must be received at
least 4 weeks before payment is due.
If all the grant money is not committed, or if someone awarded a grant cannot
use it, additional grants may be made later in the year.
Grants must be used within twelve months of their receipt. Funds not used
during this period will be forfeited. When their projects are completed, grantees
should present brief written reports describing and documenting the implementation
of their proposals to the Friends’ Board. Reminders of the reports
being due will be sent to the recipients nine months after the awards have been
received. The Secretary of the Friends will keep proposals and reports
on file.
The supervisor’s signature on the application form is requested in order
to assure mutual communication and to ensure that an applicant’s use of
his/her working schedule and library facilities to carry out the project is agreeable.
COMMITTEE SELECTION: Proposals will be reviewed and selections
made by a committee of five (5) persons, as follows:
- Three (3) will be members of the WMU Friends appointed by the president.
At least one (1) will be a member of the Friends’ Board.
- Two (2) will be Library Staff who are not applicants for grants. These members
will be chosen by the Library Staff Advisory Board (LSAB). At least one will
be an LSAB member.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION: Generally speaking, over a period
of several years, grants will be awarded to as many Staff as feasible. In the
selection process, grants received in previous years will be taken into account.
Each proposal will be considered on its merits.
The following are points that applicants should keep in mind:
- The proposal’s relevance to the applicant’s professional work,
as well as the ways in which the project might expand the applicant’s professional
abilities and competencies.
- The proposal’s “doability,” i.e., its practicality.
- The proposal’s thoughtfulness and originality. (These might be especially
seen in proposals involving exhibits, performances, and programs.)
- Anticipation of when and how the project will be completed.
Applications for grants can be made at any time, but must be received at least
4 weeks before registration/tuition payment is due. Instructions for where
to send applications are on the Application Form. (Note: Awards
are contingent upon university approval.)
A suggestion: Staff should consider
seeking matching or accompanying grants from other places/sources at the same
time they apply for the Friends’ grants—e.g., from the Dean of Libraries.
DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT (using from two to three typed, double-spaced
pages):
- Describe your project and its purpose, and how you will benefit from working
on it. Be specific.
- When do you anticipate completing the project?
- What costs are anticipated? Include specific information such as price quotations
from vendors for equipment or materials, or an itemized budget for a program,
speaker, performance, or exhibit. If travel is proposed—e.g., to a library
conference—list the anticipated costs.
- Some supporting documents might
be useful—e.g., the prospectus for a conference;
evidence of previous work along the lines of the proposal.
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