Laura Bush Foundation For America's Libraries

Frequently Asked Questions

Key Word Links

Key Word	Question	Answer

Award	Is a Laura Bush Foundation Grant considered a federal grant?	No. The LBF is a free-standing foundation separate from the federal government. It is supported by private donations.
Award	Is there a time-frame for spending funds awarded?	Yes. The funds must be spent within the school year following the year in which the grant was given.
Awards	How many grants are awarded?	The number of grants awarded is a function of the amount of money available from the endowment. In 2007, 263 grants were awarded out of more than a thousand applicants.
Awards	What is the evaluation program mentioned in Questions #31 and #33?	The LBF collects information on how its funds are spent and on the impact that the purchased books or magazines have on a given school’s students. The goal is to gather information that will help the LBF improve its efforts. To accomplish this, all recipients are required to submit a report at the end of the school year following the year in which the grant was awarded.

Definitions	“Book”? What is a “book” for purposes of this application?	A “book” is a hardbound print or Braille volume, an audio-book on audio-tape or CD-ROM, or an e-book to be added to either the circulating or reference section of the school library collection. Please note that the definition does not include · Video tapes or DVDs · Any student or teacher guide to the book, whether offered in print or another media · Any test, quiz, workbook, or exercise book, or commentary on the book, whether offered in print or another media · Any software related to the book. Please do note, however, that you may also order magazine/serial copies or subscriptions with LBF money.
Definitions	“Library” What is a “library” for purposes of this application?	A library is a uniquely designated space in which books and other materials systematically classified and arranged by subject and type are stored and used by the students and adults in a school. Please note that the definition does *not* include classroom sets of books, collections of books stored in a room that are not organized and classified in a systematic way, or collections of books on rolling carts of any description. Only schools that have a library that meets this definition may apply for a LBF grant.
Definitions	“Librarian” What is a “librarian” for purposes of this application?	For the purposes of the LBF grant application only, a librarian is the person designated by the school administration as responsible for the collection, care, and use of the materials housed in the dedicated space of the library. Ideally, this person is a certificated school librarian. Realizing, however, that conditions in a given school might require that a teacher, aide, paraprofessional, or other person take this responsibility, the operative part of the definition resides in the word “responsible.” Only schools that have a person assigned specific responsibility for the library may apply for this LBF grant.

Eligibility	What schools are eligible to apply for an LBF grant? Can schools outside the national capital region apply?	Yes. Schools in all 50 states, the District of Columbia , all American territories, and Department of Defense schools in other countries are eligible to apply. This includes all public, private, parochial, charter, city, state, county, and reservation schools -- including special schools, social services schools, and juvenile detention center schools in any of those jurisdictions – that serve any combination of pre-kindergarten through high school students.
Eligibility	We have been awarded one of these LBF grants in the past. Are we eligible to apply for another?	Yes. Schools that have applied before may apply again. Schools that previously have received an LBF grant may apply again. Schools previously awarded a grant should pay particular attention in this application to explaining how they used the funds they received and the impact those books had on their students.
Eligibility	Why does the Laura Bush Foundation for America 's Libraries target only schools with a very high percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced price lunch?	The Laura Bush Foundation for America 's Libraries understands that most schools need money for books and that school and library budgets are often inadequate. However, because funds are limited and research shows that children in low income families are least likely to have access to books, we are targeting the nation's neediest schools and students for grants. In order to establish need, the committee is using the widely known and reported "free and reduced price lunch percentage" as its criteria for establishing need.
Eligibility	Can more than one school in a district apply?	Yes. LBF grants are awarded to individual schools and not to districts. All the schools in a given district are welcome to apply.
Eligibility	Can home-schoolers apply?	No. Please see the definitions of "school," "library," and "librarian" elsewhere in this information packet.
Eligibility	The county library serves as our school library. Are we eligible to apply?	Yes. Please be aware, however, that all else being equal, preference is given to stand-alone school libraries.
Eligibility	Can a library project for public housing residents apply?	No. While we hope to be able to support such worthwhile projects in the future, the LBF at present can only fund school library enhancements.
Eligibility	Can public/rural libraries apply?	No. While we hope to be able to support such worthwhile and important institutions in the future, the LBF at present can only fund school library enhancements.
Eligibility	Can internal alternative learning academies, which are not stand-alone schools, apply?	Not if the school in which they are embedded has a school library. If the school does not have a library, they may be eligible to apply if they themselves have a facility and operation that meets the definition of a library and have a person whose function meets the definition of a librarian found elsewhere in this information packet.
Eligibility	May a library submit more than one application if it serves more than one constituency? For example, if the library serves both a middle school and a high school?	Each library, regardless of the variety of constituents it may serve, is limited to one application per year.
Eligibility	Can we apply if we have no library?	No – except in one circumstance: If your school is brand new and in the process of developing its first library. In that case, you may apply, but the application must be submitted by the person already identified as the individual who will be responsible for the library.
Eligibility	Can we apply if we do not have a certificated librarian?	Yes – but you must have a person designated as the "school librarian" for this LBF grant. He or she does not necessarily have to be a certificated librarian, but must be identified as the person responsible for the library. Please see the definitions of "library" and "librarian" elsewhere in this information packet.

Information Submitted	I see that we are required to report our school’s Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) percentage level. How can I get that figure if our school authorities don’t have it or won’t give it to me?	You might be able to get the information from: http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/
Information Submitted	Should we include tables, charts, or other information in attachments?	No. Please enter all relevant information into the form provided. Please do not send any additional information as an attachment.
Information Submitted	How specific should we be in describing the books to be purchased?	Please limit your description only to types or categories of books to be purchased. Please do not list specific titles. The same is true with magazine/serial requests.
Information Submitted - budget	How specific should we be in budget information?	Please submit two pieces of budget information only: (1) How many dollars you spent on books last year from all sources, and (2) how many dollars you expect to spend on books this year from all sources. Please see the definition of a "book" elsewhere in this information packet.
Information Submitted - budget	When you ask for our budget figures, do you want us to include all sources, such as Title VI, other grants or donations, proceeds from book fairs, etc.?	Yes. As you see in the chart under Question #15, you are asked to report (1) how many dollars you spent on books last year and the year before from monies your governing body allocated to you, (2) how many dollars you spent on books from other sources, and (3) how many dollars you expect to spend on books this year from all sources.
Information Submitted - budget	We're confused over the definition of the "book budget." Does that include the entire library budget? Does it include the textbook budget?	The book budget refers to the number of dollars spent on books from all sources for the school library collection. It does not include classroom textbooks used in the school, nor any personnel or operating costs. Please note the distinction between monies from your organization and other money available to you. Please also notice that only money allocated by your governing body is used to calculate your per-public book budget.
Information Submitted	We are concerned that bold, bullets, underlines, and other formatting will not translate from our word processing program to the on-line application form.	The formatting may not translate. We recommend you use Microsoft Word. Please do not use bold, bullets, quotation marks, or underlines. Keep the formatting simple.
Information Submitted	Can we put information in “quotation marks”?	No. Please do not use quotation marks. They probably will be lost in transmission and may interfere with other written characters.
Information Submitted	I already submitted the application but need to add or change some information. Is there a way to do that?	No. The submission is final. Duplicate submissions will not be considered.
Information Submitted	I want to keep a copy of my application. How can I do that?	We suggest that you compose each section of the application in Microsoft Word and save it. Then copy the information into the appropriate sections of the online application. If you are using Microsoft Word or another word processing program, you can save the completed application by using the following steps before submitting it: Hit “file,” and then “Save as,” Then type the name you want to call your application. Be sure you know to where you saved it so you will be able to find it again.

Purchasing Guidelines	Can we include processing costs as part of our requested amount?	All grant dollars are to be spent for books or magazines/serials alone. LBF can be used to buy pre-processed books if the processing is included in the unit price. LBF funds may not be used to pay for separate processing, for any processing service, or for salaries or stipends for individuals processing books in the school system.
Purchasing Guidelines	Can we purchase Accelerated Reader tests, other AR materials, or similar materials for other reading support programs with grant funds?	No. All grant dollars are to be spent for books or magazines/serials alone. Please see the definition of a "book" elsewhere in this information packet. We cannot fund quizzes, tests, study guides, teacher guides, commentaries on a book, or any kind of software.
Purchasing Guidelines	Can the funds be used to purchase DVD movie versions of books? For example, Gone With The Wind, Lord of the Rings, Hound of the Baskervilles, Frankenstein, Lonesome Dove, The Wizard of Oz, or one of the Harry Potter stories?	No. LBF funds can be used only to purchase print or Braille volumes, audio-books, or e-books. Please see the definition of "book" elsewhere in this information packet. The LBF’s goal is to foster a love of reading through the written or spoken word. Movie versions of books are visual.
Purchasing Guidelines	Can we use the funds to purchase cassettes to accompany books (ESOL)?	LBF funds can be used only to purchase books or magazines/serials in print, Braille, or audio form. You may purchase a cassette if it delivers the book in spoken form. We cannot fund quizzes, tests, study guides, teacher guides, commentaries on a book, or any kind of software.
Purchasing Guidelines	Can LBF funds be used to purchase shelving, furniture, equipment, staffing, software, videos, guides, tests or exams, classroom book sets or other library media center items?	No. LBF funds can be used only to purchase print or Braille volumes, audio-books, e-books, or magazines/serials copies or subscriptions.

Submission	Whose permission do we need in order to apply? The district's? The state's?	Permission to apply must be determined by the school wishing to submit an application. If you have questions about this, please check with your district office or other governing body regarding any pertinent grant application policies or regulations it may have. The LBF does not require that the district, the county, the state, or any other agency approve any application. The LBF's focus is on the individual school. The school principal or equivalent (e.g., headmaster), however, must agree to the application and the terms attached to any grants made as described in these materials and in Question #33 on the application form.
Submission	Can I get the principal’s permission later?	No. The principal must agree to submission of the LBF grant proposal at the time it is submitted.
Submission	Can applications be submitted via email?	No. All applications must be submitted via the on-line application form.
Submission	Can changes be made once the application is submitted?	No. An application is final once it has been submitted.
Submission	Can an application be sent from a home computer or must it be sent from a school computer?	Your application can be submitted using any Internet-connected computer to which you have access.
Submission	Must the application be written by a school employee?	No. Anyone – e.g., a certificated librarian, administrator, teacher, grant writer, paraprofessional, parent volunteer – may write an application. However, the application cannot be considered unless the school meets the eligibility criteria of having a “library” and a “librarian” as defined elsewhere in this packet. The application also must be approved and electronically signed by the school principal or equivalent (e.g., headmaster).
Submission	We have missed the deadline for submission. Is there anything we can do?	No. We are sorry, but no submissions can be accepted after the December 31 deadline.
Submission	How will I know that you received the application?	You will receive notice at the email address on your application. Please be certain that the email address you type in is correct.
Submission	I did not get email confirmation of submission	Most likely, you typed the wrong email address on the application. Our confirmation message is automatically generated and sent to the address exactly as it appears on the application.

Technical Assistance	Must I use Internet Explorer to submit this application or will another web browser be O.K.?	You must use Internet Explorer in order for the program to work that does calculations in a number of questions.
Technical Assistance	Access to the application timed out before I sent it. I lost my information.	Your Internet provider may have timed you out. There may have been a power surge. Or many other reasons could cause this. To avoid losing your information, it is best to prepare and save your answers in Microsoft Word. Then you can copy and paste the content to the appropriate boxes well before any time limitations are exceeded.
Technical Assistance	I cannot see all of the text in the box.	Use the scroll bar on the side of the box to see more text.
Technical Assistance	Some of my content does not appear in the response box.	You might be trying to submit more than the allotted number of characters. This happens sometimes because people forget that spaces and punctuation count as characters.