Grants and Acquisitions

David Free

The Private Academic Library Network of Indiana has awarded an $8,000 Library Innovation Grant to Saint Mary’s College. This grant will support Cushwa-Leighton Library’s project, “You Belong in the Library,” aimed at fostering a more inclusive and welcoming environment for first-generation students. “You Belong in the Library” seeks to build innovative library practices that enhance students’ sense of belonging at Saint Mary’s. The project will introduce diverse artwork, opportunities for students to engage in emerging technology, and a chance for students to build community by sharing their stories in the college’s Academic Repository. Through these efforts, students will also gain valuable information and research skills.

Open to all 24 PALNI-supported institutions, the Library Innovation Grant funds proposed initiatives that align with PALNI strategic priorities and support deep collaboration throughout the consortium. Grant proposals are evaluated and selected for funding based on their creativity, clearly defined and measurable objectives, replicability by other PALNI institutions, and long-term sustainability. The projects are supported for up to one year, with recipients expected to present their results and share ideas for further collaboration and innovation across PALNI.

The Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records, with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, has awarded the University of Arizona University Libraries a $43,240 Library Services and Technology Act grant to support a project which will create a do-it-yourself digitization and preservation lab for campus and community members. The Wildcats Memory Lab Project will provide university campus members and the public with free access to a dedicated library lab space, digitization tools, training resources, and workshops to learn how to preserve invaluable personal, cultural, and historical materials. In addition to collaborating with the Libraries’ Special Collections, CATalyst Studios, and Technology Strategy & Services to host events, offer expert support with audiovisual archiving, and provide technical expertise to maintain the lab equipment, the project team will help School of Information (iSchool) graduate students recruited for the project gain practical experience. The lab is scheduled to open in spring 2025.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services has announced the FY24 recipients of its American Latino Museum Internship and Fellowship Initiative (ALMIFI). Awarded institutions will receive up to $750,000 each to provide internship or fellowship opportunities at American Latino museums for students enrolled in Institutions of Higher Education, including Hispanic-Serving Institutions. Eligibility for the program required the involvement of both an American Latino museum and an Institution of Higher Education. Five partnerships were selected for funding and will receive a total of $2,853,150. Partnerships represent a range of institutions and geographies, including community colleges, top research universities, and museums of all sizes. All awarded ALMIFI projects can be found on the IMLS website at https://bit.ly/3y3PNwA.