Opportunity Information: Apply for LB21 FY24
The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (LB21 FY24) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) focused on strengthening the library and archives profession through high-impact training, education, and professional development projects. The program is designed to help build the capacity of libraries, archives, and graduate programs tied to library and information science by supporting efforts that prepare current and future professionals to meet evolving community information needs. A central expectation is that proposed projects both advance knowledge and understanding in the field and produce clear public benefits, ensuring that federal investments translate into meaningful outcomes for society.
At its core, LB21 prioritizes projects that recruit, educate, train, develop, and retain a diverse pipeline of library and archives professionals. The program also emphasizes leadership and faculty development, aiming to grow the number and strength of information leaders and educators who can expand institutional capacity over the long term. In addition, the opportunity supports initiatives that enhance the skills of the existing workforce so libraries and archives can better respond to real-world challenges and community priorities, including changes in technology, access needs, and local service demands. The overall intent is not just to run a one-time training activity, but to generate approaches, models, and results that can have far-reaching impact across the field.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are highlighted as essential values within IMLS-funded work, and applicants are encouraged to reflect these priorities in their project design, audience, partnerships, and outcomes. This can include improving services or opportunities for people from diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as supporting individuals with disabilities, limited functional literacy, or limited information skills. The program also calls attention to communities that may face barriers to using libraries or museums and to underserved urban and rural areas, including children in families living below the poverty line. In practice, this means competitive proposals will often show a thoughtful understanding of who is underserved, what barriers exist, and how training and workforce development can directly improve access, representation, and service quality.
The application process is structured in two phases. All applicants must start with Phase I by submitting a Preliminary Proposal by the published deadline of September 20 (as referenced in the Notice of Funding Opportunity). Only applicants selected after Phase I will be invited to proceed to Phase II. In Phase II, invited applicants submit Full Proposals, and only these invited full submissions are eligible for funding consideration. For FY24, invited Full Proposals are due March 20, 2024, which is also listed as the original closing date for the opportunity.
Key program details include an award ceiling of up to $1,000,000 per grant and an estimated 31 awards expected. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity categories are aligned with arts and humanities (Cultural Affairs). The program is associated with CFDA number 45.313. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details provided in the official notice, so prospective applicants typically need to consult the full IMLS guidance to confirm organizational fit and any specific requirements. The opportunity is identified as "Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (2024)" with funding opportunity number "LB21 FY24," and the record indicates a creation date of July 13, 2023.Apply for LB21 FY24
- 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 (2024)" 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 Jul 13, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 20, 2024. (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 31 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (LB21 FY24)
1) What is the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (LB21 FY24)?
The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (LB21 FY24) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). It supports high-impact training, education, and professional development projects intended to strengthen the library and archives profession.
2) What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The program is designed to build capacity in libraries, archives, and graduate programs tied to library and information science. It does this by supporting efforts that prepare current and future professionals to meet evolving community information needs.
3) What kinds of projects does LB21 prioritize?
LB21 prioritizes projects that recruit, educate, train, develop, and retain a diverse pipeline of library and archives professionals. It also emphasizes leadership and faculty development and initiatives that strengthen the skills of the existing workforce.
4) How does the program define impact beyond a single training event?
The stated intent is not only to run a one-time training activity. Projects are expected to generate approaches, models, and results that can have broader, far-reaching impact across the library and archives field.
5) Are projects expected to produce public benefits?
Yes. A central expectation is that proposed projects both advance knowledge and understanding in the field and produce clear public benefits, so federal investments translate into meaningful outcomes for society.
6) What workforce goals are emphasized by LB21?
The opportunity emphasizes workforce development across multiple stages, including recruiting new professionals, educating and training them, supporting professional development, and improving retention. It also supports enhancing the skills of the current workforce to respond to real-world challenges and community priorities.
7) Does the program support leadership development?
Yes. Leadership and faculty development are explicitly emphasized, with an aim to increase the number and strength of information leaders and educators who can expand institutional capacity over the long term.
8) How important are diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in this program?
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are highlighted as essential values in IMLS-funded work. Applicants are encouraged to reflect DEI priorities in project design, audience, partnerships, and outcomes.
9) Which communities are specifically mentioned as facing barriers or being underserved?
The information provided calls attention to people from diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, individuals with disabilities, people with limited functional literacy or limited information skills, communities that may face barriers to using libraries or museums, underserved urban and rural areas, and children in families living below the poverty line.
10) What does a competitive DEI approach typically demonstrate (based on the description)?
Competitive proposals will often show a thoughtful understanding of who is underserved, what barriers exist, and how training and workforce development can directly improve access, representation, and service quality.
11) What are the major phases of the application process?
The application process has two phases: Phase I requires submission of a Preliminary Proposal by the published deadline, and only applicants selected after Phase I are invited to submit a Phase II Full Proposal.
12) What is required in Phase I?
All applicants must start with Phase I by submitting a Preliminary Proposal by the published deadline of September 20 (as referenced in the Notice of Funding Opportunity).
13) Can an applicant submit a Full Proposal without being invited?
No. Only applicants selected after Phase I will be invited to proceed to Phase II, and only invited Full Proposals are eligible for funding consideration.
14) When are Full Proposals due for FY24?
For FY24, invited Full Proposals are due March 20, 2024, which is also listed as the original closing date for the opportunity.
15) What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is up to $1,000,000 per grant.
16) How many awards does IMLS expect to make?
The opportunity lists an estimated 31 awards expected.
17) What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
18) What activity category is this opportunity associated with?
The activity categories are aligned with arts and humanities (Cultural Affairs).
19) What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number associated with this opportunity is 45.313.
20) What is the funding opportunity number and official opportunity name?
The funding opportunity number is LB21 FY24, and the opportunity is identified as "Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (2024)."
21) Who is the funding agency?
The funding agency is the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
22) What does the eligibility category say?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details provided in the official notice. Prospective applicants are expected to consult IMLS guidance and the Notice of Funding Opportunity to confirm organizational fit and any specific requirements.
23) What is the record creation date shown for this opportunity?
The record indicates a creation date of July 13, 2023.
24) What kinds of needs is the program trying to help libraries and archives address?
The program emphasizes helping libraries and archives respond to evolving community information needs and real-world challenges, including changes in technology, access needs, and local service demands.
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| Museums for America (2024) Apply for MFA FY24 Funding Number: MFA FY24 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 (2024) Apply for ME FY24 Funding Number: ME FY24 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 (2024) Apply for NLG M FY24 Funding Number: NLG M FY24 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services (2024) Apply for NANH FY24 Funding Number: NANH FY24 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
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