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Grants Summary
Collections Grant
- Amount is based on library service levels for service population as defined in the Kansas Public Library Standards.
- Application process – NCKLS grant agreements distributed in late fall to eligible public libraries for the next year funding.
- Purpose – To improve local collections and extend resource sharing in the region with physical and digital circulating materials.
- Qualifications – This grant is open to all legally established public libraries in a NCKLS taxing county.
- Reporting requirements– Complete NCKLS survey to report usage information.
- Schedule – Funds are available on account and available to spend beginning January 1, of the current year, contingent on receipt of the annual agreement. Funds must be spent by December 15 of the current year.
Competitive Grant
- Amount – Varies annually based on our budget and focus for the year.
- The process is competitive amongst any taxing library that applies. Contract libraries are not eligible to apply.
- A review committee of Library Directors and system consultants from the region will score applications and make decisions for funding.
- All libraries will be notified how they scored and which areas they need to improve, regardless if a grant is awarded.
- Purpose – To provide larger amounts of funding in order to do substantive projects within the region in high need areas. Areas of possible funding are facilities, professional services, furniture/fixtures, marketing, digital collections, partnerships, automation/digitization or other areas. The executive committee bases the decision on regional needs and current library trends.
- Qualifications – This subsidy/grant/service is open to all legally established public libraries in a NCKLS taxing county.
- Reporting requirements – Reports will be due May 15th as the projects run from December through April of the following year. Receipts for work, materials, services, etc. must be submitted that align with the original grant budget submitted. All funds must be expended within a 5-month timeframe, the project must be completed within that timeline.
- Schedule – Guidelines will be issued by late summer and the area of funding for that year will be outlined. Applications are due by September 15th, libraries will be notified of an award by November 1st.
Continuing Education Grant
- Amount – A maximum of $500 will be allowed per library per year to cover the costs of attending a conference, workshop or webinar.
- Application process – Complete a continuing education grant application at: https://lib.nckls.org/continuing-education-grant/.
- Purpose – To help libraries meet Kansas Public Library Standards for the development and training of library staff and board members.
- Qualifications – This grant is open to any legally established public library in NCKLS region.
- Receipts for event registrations are not required.
- Reporting requirements – Fill out the grant report evaluation form at: https://lib.nckls.org/continuing-education-grant-report/, to be completed within a month of attendance at CE event.
- Schedule – Libraries may apply anytime during the year up until November 15th.
Courier Subsidy
- Amount – NCKLS will pay 80% of the total annual fees for 3 day a week service from the Kansas Library Express courier services.
- Application process – NCKLS grant agreements distributed in late fall to eligible public libraries for the next year funding.
- Libraries with unreported statistics will not receive a 80% match for this grant.
- Purpose – To facilitate interlibrary loan and resource sharing in the region and across the state.
- Qualifications – This subsidy/grant/service is open to all legally established public libraries in a NCKLS taxing county.
- Reporting requirements – Report and agree to all terms as instructed on the KLE website and submit monthly statistics at https://kslibexpress.mykansaslibrary.org/.
- Schedule – NCKLS directly pays the service provider. The service provider will bill the library for the remaining amount in January or when participation begins.
Digital Resources Service
- Amount – The amount of the grant equals the fee based on the size of the library to join the Sunflower eLibrary. The following are the fees:
- Gateway Library with populations under 500 = $600
- Linking Library with populations between 500 – 1,000 = $900
- Service Center 1 Library with population between 1,000 – 2,500 = $1500
- Service Center 2 Library with population between 2,500 – 10,000 = $3000
- Major Service Center 2 with population between 25,000 – 100,000 = $6000
- Application process – NCKLS grant agreements distributed in late fall to eligible public libraries for the next year funding.
- Purpose – Ensure all residents in the taxing counties of NCKLS have access to popular digital materials and to increase the adoption of digital materials in rural areas of the NCKLS region.
- Qualifications – This service is open to all legally established public libraries in NCKLS counties.
- Reporting requirements – Complete NCKLS survey to report usage information.
- Schedule – NCKLS directly pays the service provider. Any libraries outside the taxing counties of NCKLS will be charged for the service with their annual service agreement.
Per Capita
- Amount – A formula approved by the System board and the population reported in the annual Public Library Survey.
- Application process – NCKLS grant agreements distributed in late fall to eligible public libraries for the next year funding.
- Purpose – To help libraries meet library standards that are identified locally and to level funding for the wide population differences in the service level ranges, defined in the Kansas Public Library Standards. The library may use their discretion when it comes to spending these funds.
- Qualifications – This grant is open to all legally established public libraries in a NCKLS taxing county.
- Reporting requirements – Complete NCKLS survey to report usage information.
- Schedule – Funds will be mailed to the library in April.
Postage Grant
- Amount – NCKLS will reimburse libraries that are not on the courier for loaning a minimum number of 10 items annually.
- Annual number of loans is self-reported by the library on the State Library of Kansas’ annual report.
- Application process – NCKLS grant agreements distributed in late fall to eligible public libraries for the next year funding.
- Purpose – To facilitate interlibrary loan and resource sharing from libraries that do not participate in the courier service.
- Qualifications –This subsidy is open to all legally established public libraries in taxing counties that are not members of the Kansas Library Express courier service.
- Reimbursement rate will be the USPS media mail rate up to 2 pounds per item up to a total of $500. More on the rate can be found here: https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm#_c059.
- Reporting requirements – Complete NCKLS survey to report usage information.
- Schedule – Reimbursement checks will be sent out in April of the current year.
Programming Grant
- Amount – $300 per year.
- Application process – Complete a programming grant application at: http://lib.nckls.org/programming-grant.
- Purpose – To help libraries provide engaging and enriching programs to their communities
- Qualifications – This grant is open to all legally established public libraries in a NCKLS taxing county.
- Reporting requirements – Complete NCKLS survey to report usage information.
- Schedule – Libraries may apply anytime during the year up until November 15th. Funds must be spent or encumbered by December 15 of the current year.
Service Improvement Grant
- Amount – Up to $1,000 per application with a limit of one application per library per year.
- Application process – Complete a service improvement grant application at: http://lib.nckls.org/grants/service-improvement-grant/.
- Purpose – To help libraries meet Kansas Public Library Standards for facilities, staffing, planning and community engagement.
- Qualifications – This grant is open to all legally established public libraries in a NCKLS taxing county.
- Reporting requirements – Complete NCKLS survey to report usage information.
- Schedule – Libraries may apply anytime during the year up until November 15th. Funds must be spent or encumbered by December 15 of the current year.
Updated: 3/28/2024
Technology Grant
- Amount – Up to $1,000 per application with a limit of one application per library per year.
- Application process – Complete the technology grant application at: http://lib.nckls.org/grants/tech-grant/.
- Purpose – To help libraries meet Kansas Public Library standards for automation and technology.
- Qualifications – This grant is open to all legally established public libraries in a NCKLS taxing county.
- Reporting requirements – Complete NCKLS survey to report usage information.
- Schedule – Libraries may apply anytime during the year up until November 15th. Funds must be spent or encumbered by December 15 of the current year.