Guidelines

Receipt Deadline: January 25, 2008

Date posted: September 10, 2007

CFDA No. 45.168.

Beginning September 10, 2007, NEH will accept applications for the We the People Bookshelf on “Created Equal” here.

These guidelines explain the program and how to prepare an online application.

Questions?

Contact the American Library Association staff at 1–800–545–2433, ext. 5045, or publicprograms@ala.org. You can also contact the NEH at 202–606–8337 or wethepeople@neh.gov. Hearing–impaired applicants can contact NEH via TDD at 1–866–372–2930.

Type of Award

Successful applicants will receive a set of classic hardcover books for young readers, all related to the “Created Equal” theme. The set includes seventeen books in English, four in Spanish translation, and a bonus set of History in a Box resource materials on Abraham Lincoln created by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Libraries will also receive supplementary materials for programming, including bookplates, bookmarks, and posters.

Program Description

As part of its We the People program, NEH is collaborating with the American Library Association (ALA) to present the We the People Bookshelf, a program that encourages young people to read classic books and explore themes in American history, culture, and ideas. School libraries (K–12) and public libraries are invited to apply for a full set of books that embody in one way or another the theme ”Created Equal.”

The Theme

The American nation, observed Abraham Lincoln, was “conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” The “Created Equal” Bookshelf provides opportunities for young people to explore what the Revolutionary generation meant when it declared that “all men are created equal.” What challenges has America faced—and where has it shown progress—in its efforts to live up to the ideal of universal human equality? How did Abraham Lincoln, the bicentennial of whose birth we celebrate in 2009, contribute to the idea and the reality of human equality in America?

The Bookshelf

Books selected for the “Created Equal” Bookshelf are:

• Kindergarten to Grade 3
  • The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen
  • The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln
  • Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco
  • Pink Y Say by Patricia Polacco (translated by Alejandra Lopez Varela)

• Grades 4 to 6
  • Saturnalia by Paul Fleischman
  • Give Me Liberty! The Story of the Declaration of Independence by Russell Freedman
  • Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman
  • Many Thousand Gone: African Americans from Slavery to Freedom by Virginia Hamilton
  • Lyddie by Katherine Paterson
  • Lyddie by Katherine Paterson (translated by Rosa Benavides)

• Grades 7 to 8
  • Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
  • Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russell Freedman
  • Abraham Lincoln the Writer: A Treasury of His Greatest Speeches and Letters ed. by Harold Holzer
  • Breaking Through by Francisco Jiménez
  • Senderos Fronterizos: Breaking Through Spanish Edition by Francisco Jiménez

• Grades 9 to 12
  • Abigail Adams: Witness to a Revolution by Natalie S. Bober
  • That All People May Be One People, Send Rain to Wash the Face of the Earth by Nez Perce Chief Joseph
  • Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
  • Flores Para Algernon by Daniel Keyes (translated by Paz Barroso)
  • Lincoln's Virtues: An Ethical Biography by William Lee Miller
  • Amistad: A Novel by David Pesci

• Bonus :
  • History in a Box resource materials on Abraham Lincoln developed by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, including a resource book, CD, interactive CD–ROM, and posters featuring primary source documents, photographs, artwork, maps, songs, and other teaching resources.

NEH selected these books in consultation with members of the ALA and members of the Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC), a division of the ALA.

Library and community programs

In return for receiving a Bookshelf, libraries are required to organize programs that introduce the books and the “Created Equal” theme to the library’s students, young patrons, or intergenerational audiences. Programs should take place between May 1, 2008, and April 30, 2009. In addition to the books and the history kit, libraries will receive supplemental materials to help with publicity and administration of public programs.

Programs should take place within the recipient school or library, although programs may also extend beyond the library walls through collaboration with other school or public libraries. NEH especially encourages programs in which the Bookshelf is part of a larger effort to encourage young people and other members of the community to reflect on the theme “Created Equal.” Libraries may collaborate with other (non–library) organizations to develop local history displays, intergenerational story hours, living history presentations, or public events focused on the theme of “Created Equal” and its place in American history and culture. The “Created Equal” Bookshelf will provide an excellent opportunity for programming related to the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial.

Activities might include, but are not limited to:

• prominent display of the Bookshelf to promote patron awareness;
• a program of readings based on the Bookshelf by local civic and business leaders;
• special story hours featuring one or more books and exploring how it (or they) illustrate the theme of “Created Equal”;
• a panel discussion with community leaders and teachers highlighting the “Created Equal” theme and how the books express that theme;
• a book club for young readers based on the Bookshelf;
• ribbons or certificates to recognize young readers who read all the books in their age category;
• discussion of the books on local cable TV and radio programs; or
• the presentation of one of the books as a play, after which children are encouraged to discuss how the work illustrates the “Created Equal” theme.

For additional programmatic and publicity ideas, consult the following sources:

• American Library Association, Public Programs Office, We the People
  publicprograms.ala.org/bookshelf
• EDSITEMENT, We the People Bookshelf
  edsitement.neh.gov/bookshelf/
• National Endowment for the Humanities, We the People
  www.wethepeople.gov/bookshelf/index.html

Award Information

The We the People Bookshelf will be awarded to 3,000 libraries. Each of the libraries selected will receive a set of classic hardcover books for young readers, all related to the “Created Equal” theme. These include seventeen titles in English, four in Spanish translation, and a bonus set of History in a Box resource materials on Abraham Lincoln. Each selected library will also receive supplementary materials for programming, including bookplates, bookmarks, and posters.

Eligibility

All public libraries and school libraries (K–12) in the United States and its territories are eligible to apply. School libraries (K–12) include public, private, parochial, charter schools, and home school consortia. Libraries with collections that circulate to the general public and offer reading–based programs for the general public are eligible to apply. Libraries may also collaborate with other (non–library) organizations to develop and deliver programs; however, the Bookshelves must be housed in the libraries to which they are awarded.

Individuals, organizations other than libraries, and schools and libraries operated by Federal entities, such as the Department of Defense, are not eligible to apply.

Applications may be submitted by:

• individual libraries applying on their own;
• more than one library within each town, county, state, or system;
• library systems or school districts applying on behalf of multiple branches or schools; and
• libraries that apply on behalf of multiple libraries within a community.

Ineligible applications will not be reviewed.

How to Prepare and Submit an Application

NEH will accept applications for the Bookshelf at http://publicprograms.ala.org/bookshelf/application/ between September 10, 2007, and January 25, 2008.

Please review the Frequently Asked Questions before filling out an application.

Getting Started

To begin the application process, go to http://publicprograms.ala.org/bookshelf/application/.

There are six main steps you need to complete in order to apply for the Bookshelf:

1. REGISTER
   • CHOOSE WHETHER TO APPLY FOR SINGLE OR MULTIPLE LIBRARIES
   • COMPLETE APPLICANT CONTACT INFORMATION
2. COMPLETE RECIPIENT LIBRARY INFORMATION
3. WRITE THE PROJECT NARRATIVE
4. REVIEW AND EDIT YOUR APPLICATION
5. LIST AUTHORIZING OFFICIAL AND CERTIFY AUTHORIZATION
6. SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

1. REGISTER

Register Now: To access the application, you must first register to create an application account. You must register to create a new account even if you have created an account for a previous We the People Bookshelf competition. To complete the registration process, you will be asked to enter your email address, choose a 6–12 character password, and provide the information outlined below:

• 1.a—Indicate whether you are applying for a single library or multiple libraries, and
• 1.b—Complete the Applicant Contact Information.

Log In: If you have already registered for a “Created Equal” application account, please log in with your e–mail address and password.

On the Applicant Contact Information screen, all information is required:

2. COMPLETE RECIPIENT LIBRARY INFORMATION

Enter the shipping information for the Recipient Library. If this library is selected to receive the “Created Equal” Bookshelf, materials will be shipped by UPS directly to this address. All information is required:

• Enter the Recipient Library’s Name.
• Select Recipient Library Type from the menu.
  • If the Recipient Library is a Public Library, you will be asked to select a range for Population Served from a pull–down menu.
  • If the Recipient Library is a School Library, you will be asked to select a Library Level from a pull–down menu.
  • If the Recipient Library is of an “Other” kind, you will be asked to confirm that the library has a collection/programs that circulate to the general public, and to describe the library (i.e., community college library, special research library)
• Enter a valid Shipping Address for the Recipient Library. Do not use a P.O. number.
• Enter City, State or Territory, and Zip Code for the Recipient Library.
• Select “Save & Proceed to Narrative.”

Note for Multiple Library Applicants: Once you have entered the Recipient Library Information for one library, you can add more Recipient Libraries, using the “Save & Add Another Library” button. You may do this before or after completing the Narrative portion of the application. Only Applicant Contacts that answered “Yes” to the question “Are you applying on behalf of multiple libraries?” during Registration will see the “Add Another Library” option.

3. WRITE THE PROJECT NARRATIVE

Write a narrative explaining how the Bookshelf would be used in your library or libraries. This is the most important part of your application.

The narrative must not exceed 3,200 characters (approximately 425 words) in length. We recommend that you prepare the text using a word processing program. You can then “copy” and “paste” your essay into the online form. Note that the application system counts the number of characters you have used. If you exceed the character limit, you will not be able to submit your application until you revise your narrative to fit the space provided.

Sample proposals and ideas for programming can be found at https://publicprograms.ala.org/bookshelf/programming/ or at http://www.wethepeople.gov/bookshelf/createdEqual.html.

• For programs at one library, the narrative should address the following questions:
  • What programs will your library use to promote the We the People Bookshelf?
  • How will the programs explore the “Created Equal” theme?
  • How will the programs engage young readers?
  • Is the program being planned in collaboration with other libraries or other community organizations?
  • What strategies will the library use to encourage long–term use of the Bookshelf?

• For programs at multiple libraries, the narrative should address plans for the Bookshelf that encompass all the Recipient Libraries collectively, on a district–wide, system–wide, or community–wide basis, if applicable. The narrative should address the following questions:
  • What programs will your district or system use to promote the We the People Bookshelf?
  • How will the programs explore the theme “Created Equal”?
  • How will the programs engage young readers?
  • Are other (non–library) organizations involved in planning and implementing your programs?
  • What strategies will the system or district use to encourage long–term use of the Bookshelf?

4. REVIEW AND EDIT YOUR APPLICATION

Once you have entered your narrative, you may either

• save your narrative and continue to edit it or
• save your narrative and review your entire application.

Selecting the second option will bring you to a new REVIEW/EDIT page, which summarizes all the information you have entered, including your Applicant Contact Information, Recipient Library Information, and Narrative.

From this page you can

• review and edit each section,
• save the entire application and log out of the system, or
• certify and submit your application.

Note: Your application will be saved as plain text. Special formatting such as italics, underlining, and “curly quotes” will not be saved. You should plan accordingly by using alternatives to such formatting (e.g., putting book titles in quotation marks or all uppercase letters). You should not, however, use angle brackets (”<” and ”>”). Since brackets are commonly used in HTML, the code that drives the web–based online application system, the system will interpret them as faulty HTML code and generate an error message.

5. CERTIFY AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT APPLICATION

An application for the We the People Bookshelf is an application for an award from the National Endowment for the Humanities, an agency of the Federal Government. ALA is required by law to ask applicants to identify for each application a Certifying Official, who is authorized to apply on behalf of the organization.

• For individual libraries, this will be the person authorized to submit applications for funding on behalf of the library. Depending on the institution, this could be the director of the library, another library administrator, the school principal, or a member of an appointed or elected board.
• For applicants applying on behalf of multiple libraries, this will be a person authorized to submit applications for funding on behalf of the whole school district or library system.

To complete this section, you must enter all of the following information:

• First name of Certifying Official
• Last name of Certifying Official
• Title of Certifying Official

Check the “Certification” box to indicate acceptance by the Certifying Official of the following language:

By checking this box and submitting this application, the authorized representative for the applicant organization certifies that all statements contained herein are true and correct to the best of their knowledge and belief; and that the applicant organization is neither presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in this transaction by any federal department or agency.

6. SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

Application deadline: January 25, 2008, 11:59 p.m. C.S.T.

Once you have completed all parts of your application, you may submit it at any time by selecting the “Submit Application” button. All applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. C.S.T. on January 25, 2008. Applications submitted after that time will be considered ineligible.

Note that once you have submitted your application:

• you can no longer make changes in your application,
• your application will be submitted for review,
• you should print your application summary page for your files, and
• you will receive a confirmation e–mail with a plain text version of your application.

Application Review

Selection criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Are the proposed programs well conceived, and are they likely to appeal to the intended audience, whether it is young readers in a school, the young patrons of a library, or a broader public community?
• Do the proposed programs explore the theme of “Created Equal”?
• Do the proposed programs make good use of the Bookshelf in exploring the theme?
• Will the proposed programs engage young readers?
• Does the library provide a long–term plan for promoting ongoing interest in the Bookshelf?
• Is the application clear and complete?

Review Process

Each application will be assessed by a review panel of librarians and teachers in collaboration with the staff of ALA and NEH. Evaluators may take geographical and demographic distribution into consideration when selecting schools. The Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities will make the final decision.

Award Administration Information

• Application Deadline: January 25, 2008
• Grant Notification: March 31, 2008
• Books and materials shipped to Grantees: On or about April 3, 2008
• Programming Period: May 1, 2008 through April 30, 2009
• Final Report Due: May 31, 2009

Award notices

Applicants will be notified via e–mail and/or letter by March 31, 2008, of the outcome of their applications.

Reporting requirements

Award recipients will be required to submit a one–page final performance report to the American Library Association by May 31, 2009.

Points of Contact

If you have questions about the program, contact:

American Library Association
1–800–545–2433, ext. 5045
publicprograms@ala.org

or

We the People
National Endowment for the Humanities
Room 511
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20506
202–606–8337
wethepeople@neh.gov

Other Information

Privacy Policy

Information in these guidelines is solicited under the authority of the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C. 956. The principal purpose for which the information will be used is to process the grant application. The information may also be used for statistical research, analysis of trends, and Congressional oversight. Failure to provide the information may result in the delay or rejection of the application.

Application Completion Time

The Office of Management and Budget requires federal agencies to supply information on the time needed to complete forms and also to invite comments on the paperwork burden. NEH estimates the average time to complete this application is one hour per response. This estimate includes time for reviewing instructions, researching, gathering, and maintaining the information needed, and completing and reviewing the application. Please send any comments regarding the estimated completion time or any other aspect of this application, including suggestions for reducing the completion time, to the Director of the Office of Publications, National Endowment for the Humanities, Washington, DC 20506; and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (3136–0134), Washington, DC 20503. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB number.

© 2007 American Library Association. Privacy Policy

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