Grants available for public groups

Grants for educational institutions, public libraries, and museums were made available by the following organizations:

State Education Department
The New York State Library is offering grants for projects that contribute to the preservation of significant research materials in libraries, archives, historical societies and other agencies in New York state, whether by conducting surveys, improving collection storage environments, reformatting or treating collections or other preservation activities described in the program guidelines.

Eligibility: Not-for-profit archives, libraries, museums, historical societies and similar institutions in New York state and consortia or cooperating groups of such agencies; colleges and universities; professional associations or other not-for-profit institutions that provide services to libraries.

Funding: $500,000 is available for conservation and preservation of library research materials. Grants will be available in amounts from $1,500 to $30,000.

Deadline: Applications must be received in the Conservation/Preservation office by 5 p.m., December 3, 2004.

For information: To obtain eligibility criteria, additional information or a copy of the application and guidelines, potential applicants should contact the New York State Library, Conservation/Preservation Program, Room 10-B-41, Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY 12230; call (518) 486-2197. E-mail lquinn@mail.nysed.gov; or visit www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/cp.

Libraries for the Future
Libraries for the Future, with support from the MetLife Foundation, is sponsoring Get Real, Get Fit!, a program of library-based activities and discussions focused on physical fitness and healthy eating for teens and their families. Get Real, Get Fit! was developed by Libraries for the Future in response to the MetLife Foundation's interest in how libraries could be helpful in educating teens and their families about healthy lifestyles based on good nutrition and physical fitness.

Eligibility: Public Libraries

Funding: Forty libraries will be selected for the program, with winners receiving a cash grant of $1,500 to $2,500.

Deadline: December 10, 2004

For information: Visit www.lff.org/news/GRGF rfp.html

National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
As part of its We the People initiative, the NEH invites proposals for challenge grants designed to help institutions and organizations secure long-term improvements in and support for humanities activities focused on exploring significant themes and events in American history. Grants may be used to support long-term costs such as construction and renovation, purchase of equipment, acquisitions, and conservation of collections. Grants may also be used to establish or enhance endowments that generate expendable earnings for program activities.

Eligibility: Applications are welcome from colleges and universities, museums, public libraries, research institutions, historical societies, and historic sites, public television and radio stations, scholarly associations, state humanities councils, and other nonprofit entities.

Funding: We the People challenge grants assist institutions in developing sources of support for humanities programs, and fundraising is an integral part of the long-term planning required by the program. The requested grant amount should be appropriate to the humanities needs and the fundraising capacity of the institution. The Federal portion of the NEH We the People challenge grants will likely range between $300,000 and $1 million, and grant recipients must raise, from non-Federal donors, three times the amount of Federal funds offered.
Deadline: February 1, 2005

For information: Contact NEH's Office of Challenge Grants at (202) 606-8309 or e-mail challenge@neh.gov. Hearing-impaired applicants can contact NEW via TDD at (866) 372-2930.

The History Channel
The History Channel has announced the first year of its Save Our History National Grant Program. The program will award grants to historical organizations that partner with educators on unique, rewarding projects that help students learn about and appreciate the history of their local communities.

Eligibility: Historical societies, preservation organizations, museums, historic sites, and other history organizations that partner with schools on Save Our History projects can apply for these grants. To be eligible, these organizations must work with partner educators who utilize the Save Our History Educator's Manual. Projects must focus on a significant aspect of community history.

Funding: The History Channel will award grants between $1,000 and $10,000.

Deadline: December 3, 2004

For information: Visit www.saveourhistory.com

Assemblyman Bill Reilich provided this information. He represents residents in the Towns of Greece, Ogden and Sweden in the 134th Assembly District.