Early Literacy and Storytime Resources

2019-2022 Family Literacy Grant

2020-2021 Mini-Grants

The Finger Lakes Library System is offering mini-grants to member libraries as part of the 2019-2022 New York State Family Literacy Library Program: Ready to Read at New York Libraries through Public Library Systems. For the 2020-2021 grant year, $6,000 is available for mini-grants and each member library may apply for up to $250. The mini-grants may be used to purchase supplies and materials to support the library’s early literacy work. Early literacy is defined as being for children from birth through age 5 and their caregivers. Applications are being accepted from April 23, 2021 through May 7, 2021.

Mini-grant requirements:

applicants must be libraries that are members of the Finger Lakes Library System,
materials to be purchased must support the early literacy work of the library,
applications must clearly indicate what is to be purchased (e.g. “storytime supplies” is not a sufficient description, but “child safety scissors, glue sticks, and storage bins” would be acceptable),
purchased materials must be labeled “Purchased with funds from the New York State Library’s Family Literacy Library Services Program” (pre-printed labels will be available from FLLS),
the grant will NOT cover food or taxes on purchases,
to be reimbursed for grant purchases, recipients must fill out a Reimbursement Form and attach receipts,
all purchases for reimbursement must be made by June 1, the reimbursement paperwork completed by June 4, and the final report submitted by June 9.

This mini-grant cycle may be competitive, based on the number of libraries that apply. Applications will be evaluated on clarity of what is to be purchased and how the purchase(s) tie into the library’s early literacy work.

Mini-grant application questions
Mini-grant application (due May 7, 2021)
Mini-grant final report questions
Mini-grant final report (due June 9, 2021) – Please wait to complete this report until after you have completed your purchases.
Mini-grant reimbursement form

For questions, please contact Nora Burrows at nburrows@flls.org or 607-273-4074 x 227.
To learn more about the New York State Family Literacy Library Services Program, visit http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/familylit/.

Ready to Read at New York Libraries

As part of the 2016-2019 Family Literacy Grant, the Finger Lakes Library System is participating in the New York State Education Department’s Ready to Read at New York Libraries initiative.

This page is intended for member libraries in the Finger Lakes Library System to download resources after training and download related documents. Any questions, please email the Training Cohort.

Training Documents

Past Trainings

Demographic Data Resources:

Early Literacy Funding Resources

Foundation Center

(http://foundationcenter.org): “Established in 1956, Foundation Center is the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. Foundation Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. and, increasingly, global grant makers and their grants — a robust, accessible knowledge bank for the sector.”

Begin by searching the Free Directory at http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/foundfinder. Note that deeper access to the site’s resources requires subscription (some libraries, such as the New York State Library, are subscribers: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/grantres.htm).
You may also visit the Foundation Center’s Grant Space for Children and Youth at http://grantspace.org/Subjects/children-and-youth.

Library Grants Blog (http://librarygrants.blogspot.com)

New York State Library – State Aid for Library Construction (http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/construc): “Funds from an appropriation of $19 million in capital funds for public library construction in the 2015 State Budget can provide up to 75 percent of approved costs of acquisition, construction, renovation, or rehabilitation of public libraries or public library system headquarters.” Talk to your library system for more information.

American Library Association – Grants (http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/awards)
The Annie E. Casey Foundation – Grants (http://www.aecf.org/about/grant-making)
Association for Library Service to Children – Grants (http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants)
Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov)
Institute of Museum and Library Services – Grants (https://www.imls.gov/grants)
Scholastic – Grants (http://www.scholastic.com/librarians/programs/grants.htm)
K. Kellogg Foundation – Educated Kids (http://www.wkkf.org/what-we-do/educated-kids)

Look within your community.

Barnes and Noble (http://www.barnesandnobleinc.com/our_company/sponsorship/Sponsorship_main.html)
Costco Wholesale (http://www.costco.com/charitable-giving.html)
First Niagara (https://www.firstniagara.com/About_Us/Community_Commitment/How_We_Give/How_We_Give.aspx)
Lowes (http://responsibility.lowes.com/apply-for-a-grant)
Panera Bread (https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/en_us/community/community-giving.html)
Target (https://corporate.target.com/corporate-responsibility/grants

Early Literacy Organizations

Storytime Resources:

Looking for a kit, idea or more? Visit our Storytime Resources Page.

EarlyLiteracy