Stronger Together: Out of School Time

The California State Library is pleased to offer Stronger Together: Out of School Time Learning, a state-funded opportunity that provides grants to help local libraries improve or expand library services to out-of-school time youth. The purpose of these grants is to support and expand the critical role that libraries play for children and teens when they are out of school. Funded projects are encouraged to focus on one of the following topics:

  • Social-emotional development
  • Workplace preparedness of teens
  • Youth voice and leadership
  • Academic / technological advancement of youths
  • A replication project of a previous Shared Vision grant (see below)

Eligibility

An applicant must be a California public library, or a California cooperative system, consortium or library membership organization. Cooperatives, consortia or library organizations must apply on behalf of a specific, defined group of affiliate libraries.

Requirements

All participating libraries will:

  • Have a partner agreement with at least one organization
  • Adhere to grant reporting requirements
  • Participate in the monthly Community of Practice evaluation meetings

Additionally, libraries that apply to be a part of the replication process will:

  • Work with mentor libraries on adapting an already successful grant project to their community
  • Communicate with the mentor library to review plans, troubleshoot issues, and share progress

Timeline

  • Application opens: December 17th, 2021
  • Information session: January 12th, 2022 at 10:00 am.
  • Deadline to apply: February 11th, 2022 at 5:00 pm.
  • Funds awarded: March 2022
  • Project completion: March 31, 2024

Grant Details

Grant amounts

Most awards will be from $50,000 to $100,000, though we may consider smaller or larger amounts on a case-by-case basis (in the case of a cooperative application, for example).

Match requirements

A match is required for these grants, which may be cash, in-kind, or a combination of both. The match will be based on your library’s Local Income Per Capita (LIPC) level, which is derived from California Public Libraries Survey data:

  • For libraries in LIPC Level 1, a 20% match will be required.
  • For LIPC Level 2, a 25% match will be required.
  • For LIPC Level 3, a 30% match will be required.

The match is a percentage of funds requested, not a percentage of the total budget. For example, the 20% match on a $100,000 funding request would be $20,000. We will consider reductions in match on a limited, case-by-case basis.

To find your library’s LIPC, please check the State Library’s statistics webpage.

Partnership

Each funded project must have at least one partner. A partner is defined as an organization with which your library has a written agreement, and which provides resources to the project, either cash or in-kind, or both. Any service provider who is paid with grant funds for their services is not a partner.

Project Details

All projects should connect youth to resources outside the library. 

Community Libraries: Connectors and Hubs

Libraries connect people to community services and resources, and library services are most meaningful when they leverage the resources of the larger community. When any library program or project also connects youth with other community services and resources, the impact of that project increases—particularly for youth from families living on low incomes.

Applicants will be asked to describe how their proposed project helps youth access other local services and resources. Applicants should include elements on how their project will connect youth to community services that enhance project goals. The applicant’s defined partnership is one example of this type of connection, but additional outreach and engagement with community services is desirable in the application. 

Application Elements

We are seeking projects that are guided by the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in all aspects of project planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Funded projects can include the purchase of supplies, technology, materials and services, that extend library services to out of school time youth. Additionally, staff time can be paid for out of grant funds. Projects stipends for teen interns and social-emotional learning curriculum are especially encouraged. Proposals for program support for existing school aged youth programs because of lack of staff and other resources such as collections and equipment will also be considered.

Libraries may also apply to be in one of the replication projects with a mentor.  These mentorship projects recreate successful Shared Vision projects and provide an opportunity for library workers to learn from and lean on library staff who have already found success in similar grants. 

Please note that while staffing costs are an allowable expense, state funding can only be used to fund project-specific staff or staff time spent directly on the project.

The state library will prioritize project requests submitted by local libraries with the lowest spending per capita. 

Replication Project or New Project?

Applicants are allowed to choose to replicate a previous project or propose a new project.  The details of these requirements are outlined below. 

Replication Projects

We encourage libraries to apply to replicate one of two successful ‘Shared Vision’ projects:

  • Teens Work, which was originally developed by Oceanside Public Library
  • Teen Makers Learn, Play, and Create, which was originally developed by Tulare County Library

Staff from Oceanside and Tulare libraries will serve as mentors to successful applicants and help libraries adapt the original program to the needs of the local community.  The option to replicate a successful Shared Vision project will be available on the application form.

An information session, featuring the mentor libraries, will be held on January 12th at 10:00 am.

The materials from the information session will be posted here when they are available.

Oceanside: Teens Work

The Teens Work program offers local high school students a paid internship experience that includes job preparedness training, leadership roles, and social emotional learning.  Interns work in various areas of the Library including social media, outreach, collections, displays, literacy, programming, and more. They learn about the services and value the library provides, network with Library staff, and become Library enthusiasts along the way!  Paid opportunities allow for more equitable employment opportunities for youth and can strengthen communities and the local work force. 

The budget for these projects is generally between: $85,000–100,000 per project. 

Tulare County: Teen Makers Learn, Play, and Create:

The Teen Makers Learn, Play, and Create internship project provides an opportunity for teens to use their social-emotional skills to design, develop, and implement MakerSpace programming. This project has benefited Tulare County teen interns, MakerSpace program participants, and library staff. Interns developed their social-emotional skills to create programming. The community creates, plays, and learns from the MakerSpace programs. Library staff also offer MakerSpace programs to the community.

The budget for these projects is generally between: $60,000–$85,000 per project. 

New Proposals

New proposals are welcome as part of this project.  Your project goals can align to any set of the priorities of this opportunity. 

The budget for new projects will generally be between $50,000–$100,000 per project.

Additional Resources

Questions?

Please email the State Library’s Library Development Services Bureau with the subject line “Out Of School Time Grant.”