Opportunity Information: Apply for LB21 FY19
The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (LB21) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) designed to strengthen and modernize the library and archives profession in the United States. The central goal is to help build a strong, diverse workforce of librarians and archives professionals who can keep pace with the public's evolving learning, research, and information needs. In practical terms, the program funds projects that improve how current and future professionals are trained, supported, and prepared for leadership, with an emphasis on broadening participation and ensuring the field reflects the communities it serves.
LB21 focuses on several connected workforce priorities. One major area is enhancing training and professional development for people already working in libraries and archives, including efforts that update skills for new technologies, changing service models, and emerging community needs. Another emphasis is strengthening the capacity of educators and leaders in the field by developing faculty and cultivating library leadership, which can include improving curriculum, mentoring, and leadership pipelines. The program also supports recruitment and education initiatives aimed at bringing the next generation into the profession, which may involve formal education pathways, cohort-based training models, or targeted strategies that improve access and reduce barriers for underrepresented groups.
This opportunity is offered as a grant, categorized under arts and humanities-related federal funding activity areas (CFDA 45.313). The listed award ceiling is $1,000,000 per award, and the program anticipated making around 32 awards under this specific funding cycle (LB21 FY19). The opportunity was posted on June 18, 2018, with an original application deadline of September 17, 2018. Eligibility is noted broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details typically provided in the full notice; in IMLS programs, this often means that a range of organizations beyond traditional government entities may be eligible depending on the specific project type and requirements laid out in the complete announcement.
Overall, LB21 is aimed at long-term, field-wide impact: improving professional skills, strengthening education and leadership structures, and expanding recruitment into librarianship and archives work. The program is geared toward projects that can demonstrate clear benefits for workforce readiness and capacity, especially in ways that help libraries and archives respond effectively to the changing expectations of the American public.Apply for LB21 FY19
- The Institute of Museum and Library Services in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda), humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.313.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 18, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 17, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 32 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (LB21) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (LB21)?
The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (LB21) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). It is designed to strengthen and modernize the library and archives profession in the United States by supporting projects that improve how library and archives professionals are trained, supported, and prepared for leadership.
What is the main goal of LB21?
The central goal is to help build a strong, diverse workforce of librarians and archives professionals who can keep pace with the public's evolving learning, research, and information needs. The program prioritizes workforce readiness, capacity-building, and efforts that broaden participation so the profession reflects the communities it serves.
What types of projects does LB21 fund?
LB21 funds projects focused on workforce development in libraries and archives. Based on the information provided, supported projects generally fall into these areas:
- Training and professional development for current library and archives staff, including skill updates for new technologies and changing service models
- Strengthening educator and leadership capacity, such as developing faculty, improving curriculum, mentoring, and building leadership pipelines
- Recruitment and education initiatives to bring the next generation into the profession, including cohort-based training models and strategies that improve access for underrepresented groups
Who is the program intended to benefit?
The program is intended to benefit both current and future librarians and archives professionals. It supports efforts that improve training and professional development for people already in the field, while also helping recruit and educate new entrants into librarianship and archives work.
Does LB21 support projects focused on technology and emerging skills?
Yes. One of the major focus areas is enhancing training and professional development to update skills for new technologies, changing service models, and emerging community needs.
Does LB21 support leadership development in libraries and archives?
Yes. LB21 emphasizes strengthening the capacity of educators and leaders by developing faculty and cultivating library leadership. Examples mentioned include curriculum improvements, mentoring approaches, and leadership pipelines.
How does LB21 address diversity and broadening participation?
LB21 places emphasis on broadening participation and ensuring the profession reflects the communities it serves. The program supports recruitment and education initiatives that improve access and reduce barriers for underrepresented groups.
What is the funding activity area and assistance listing for this grant?
This opportunity is categorized under arts and humanities-related federal funding activity areas. The assistance listing is CFDA 45.313.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling is $1,000,000 per award.
How many awards were anticipated in this funding cycle?
The program anticipated making around 32 awards under the referenced funding cycle (LB21 FY19).
When was this opportunity posted and when was the application deadline?
The opportunity was posted on June 18, 2018, with an original application deadline of September 17, 2018.
Is this a mandatory or discretionary grant?
It is described as a discretionary federal grant opportunity.
What does it mean that eligibility is listed as "Others"?
Eligibility is noted broadly as "Others." The description indicates that additional eligibility details are typically provided in the full notice. In IMLS programs, this often means a range of organizations beyond traditional government entities may be eligible, depending on the project type and requirements laid out in the complete announcement.
Are individuals eligible to apply?
The information provided does not specify whether individuals may apply. Eligibility is broadly listed as "Others," and the details are typically clarified in the full notice for the specific competition.
What kinds of outcomes is LB21 trying to achieve?
LB21 is aimed at long-term, field-wide impact. The described outcomes include improving professional skills, strengthening education and leadership structures, and expanding recruitment into librarianship and archives work to help the field respond effectively to changing public expectations.
How should a project align with LB21 priorities based on the description?
Based on the summary provided, projects should demonstrate clear benefits for workforce readiness and capacity, especially in ways that help libraries and archives meet evolving learning, research, and information needs. Competitive alignment would generally connect proposed activities to training modernization, leadership and educator development, and/or recruitment and access strategies.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (LB21 FY19) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Museums for America Apply for MFA FY19 Funding Number: MFA FY19 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Museums Empowered Apply for ME FY19 Funding Number: ME FY19 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services Apply for NANH FY19 Funding Number: NANH FY19 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Museum Grants for African American History & Culture Apply for AAHC FY19 Funding Number: AAHC FY19 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Inspire! Grants for Small Museums Apply for IGSM FY19 Funding Number: IGSM FY19 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| National Leadership Grants for Museums Apply for NLG M FY19 Funding Number: NLG M FY19 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Accelerating Promising Practices for Small Libraries Apply for APP FY19 Funding Number: APP FY19 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Promoting Cross-Cultural Cooperation Apply for PD TLVJER 2019 01 Funding Number: PD TLVJER 2019 01 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Israel Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Native American Library Services Basic Grant Apply for NAG BASIC FY19 Funding Number: NAG BASIC FY19 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $10,000 |
| Native Hawaiian Library Services Grant Apply for NAG HAWAIIAN FY19 Funding Number: NAG HAWAIIAN FY19 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Native American Library Services Enhancement Grant Apply for NAG ENHANCEMENT FY19 Funding Number: NAG ENHANCEMENT FY19 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| National Leadership Grants for Libraries Apply for NLG LIBRARIES FY20 Funding Number: NLG LIBRARIES FY20 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program Apply for LB21 FY20 Funding Number: LB21 FY20 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Museum Grants for African American History and Culture Apply for AAHC FY20 Funding Number: AAHC FY20 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Museums Empowered Apply for ME FY20 Funding Number: ME FY20 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| National Leadership Grants for Museums Apply for NLG M FY20 Funding Number: NLG M FY20 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services Apply for NANH FY20 Funding Number: NANH FY20 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Inspire! Grants for Small Museums Apply for IGSM FY20 Funding Number: IGSM FY20 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Museums for America Apply for MFA FY20 Funding Number: MFA FY20 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Accelerating Promising Practices for Small Libraries Apply for APP FY20 Funding Number: APP FY20 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $50,000 |
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