Announcing New Funding Opportunities for Public Libraries

Posted by Cathy Burroughs on September 10th, 2018 Posted in: Funding, News From NNLM PNR

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Under cooperative agreement with the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), and in partnership with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) All of Us Research Program, the NNLM PNR is pleased to request proposals for a new round of funding opportunities for projects involving public libraries.  NNLM PNR public library member organizations in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington are eligible to apply. If your organization is not currently a member, it’s easy to join!

Proposals submitted by Wednesday, October 24, 2018 will receive fullest consideration.

If you plan to submit a proposal, we need a brief statement of intent no later than Wednesday, October 3. Please submit your statement of intent to apply to nnlm@uw.edu.

Keep reading to find brief descriptions and links to detailed information about current funding opportunities.

All of Us Research Program Community Health Outreach Award, 2 or more awards up to $12,000 each.

The purpose of this award is to improve access and use of quality health information for informed decisions about health in underserved communities; to support libraries in developing health literacy projects; and to increase awareness of the NIH All of Us Research Program.

Possible ideas for projects include:

• Using community health needs assessments and the expertise and community reach of library partnerships to co-create an actionable and sustainable plan with library specific offerings that address health priorities and support health literacy.
• Creating programs and services to increase health literacy focused on the importance of heredity, biology and environment for health.
• Developing and offering resources and programming related to the National Health Observances identified as a priority by the All of Us Research Program.
• Creating programs and services to develop knowledge of citizen science.
• Symposia, or educational events for librarians about health literacy and the skills to identify, access, retrieve, evaluate, and use relevant electronic health information resources in addition to other approaches for consumer health education.
• Train-the-Trainer projects that enhance the skills of library/organization staff and other consumer health information intermediaries to train a target population on locating and evaluating health information.
• Promotional activities, including health fairs, exhibits and events to increase awareness and use of electronic resources, including NLM resources and the All of Us Research Program.

All of Us Research Program Technology Improvement Award, 5 or more awards up to $5,000 each.

This award seeks to enhance the capacity of a library to offer electronic health information services to underserved audiences by supporting the purchase, installation, and/or upgrading of hardware and software.

Potential projects may include the following (other creative ideas are encouraged):

• Upgrading equipment in a computer lab or learning center to facilitate hands-on computer-based instruction.
• Establishing a mobile workstation (i.e. with laptop, printer, and projector on a rolling cart) to be used when providing information services outside of the library.
• Creating unique Web-based health information literacy tutorials, learning modules, mobile applications or data mashups.
• Developing digital literacy tutorials, programs or services especially designed to meet the needs of underserved populations.
• Installing adaptive hardware and software to better enable individuals with disabilities to access computer-based health information.
• Installing or improving wireless internet in the library.

Also, if you are interested in support for continuing education, consider applying for a Professional Development Award, to expand professional knowledge and encourage state of the art services for consumers seeking health information.

For information on writing a proposal, watch the recording of a special webinar held on Thursday, July 12 at 1pm Pacific Time. The webinar featured Cathy Burroughs, NNLM PNR Associate Director, who gave an overview of the NNLM PNR funding program,  plus 3 special guests who share their tips and inspiring project ideas, having successfully applied for NNLM PNR funding in the past.

We want to fund good ideas and hope to see proposals from all states of the NNLM PNR!

If you have a question, please drop us a line (nnlm@uw.edu). We welcome all questions and input.