Interested in writing a grant for money from the ESEA/Reed Amendment for
school library resources?  This is a competitive grant administered by the
U.S. Department of Education with funds going directly to an LEA (local
education authority). That means your school library media center in your
school district. The application date is 7/24/02 and approximately 250
$50,000 awards will be made by September. Maine should receive 2 or 3
significant grants for our school library media centers if we take the
initiative to pursue this money.

The Maine Association of School Libraries (MASL) is sponsoring two sessions
of a grant writing workshop specifically designed to take advantage of this
grant opportunity. The plan for the day includes helping you to make a
detailed plan for completing the application. There will be some parts of
the application that can be drafted during the day. A follow-up session,
date to be determined and held via ATM, would apply the evaluation criteria
to the proposals you are finishing with some feedback from other
participants about how to strengthen key parts.

Heidi McGinley, Maine Center for Education and formerly the Goals 2000 Team
Leader with the Maine Department of Education, will be developing and
leading the grant workshops. The day long workshops will be held from 8:30am
to 4pm. You may choose one of two dates and locations: Wednesday, June 5th
at the Leavitt Area High School in Turner or Tuesday, June 11th at Hermon
High School in Hermon.

Even if you are not one of the lucky grant recipients, there are several
long term benefits to participating in this process. You will be identifying
needs that can be used in future applications, CEUs will be available, and
to assist with the related costs a $30 payment will be made for a copy of
the completed and submitted application. On a more nationwide scale, the
Reed Amendment was authorized for $250 million but only funded this year for
$12.5 million. It is anticipated that a strong showing of need and interest
from the school library community will enable stronger funding in future
years.

Space is limited. MASL members may attend without cost.  Morning coffee and
lunch will be provided. Non-MASL members will be accepted if space is
available.  Cost for non-members would be $30 for the workshop day and $10
for the ATM session.

MASL is pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to its members and
others as space allows. Participants working in teams should indicate all
names when registering. Confirmed participants will be expected to complete
a survey of your level of knowledge and experience so we can better design a
workshop to meet your needs.

If you plan to participate, email your name, position, school district,
building, snail and email address, and phone number along with your
date/location preference to me at [log in to unmask]





Sylvia K. Norton
Learning Technology/Library/Media and Information Services Specialist
Maine Department of Education

Maine State Library
64 State House Station
Augusta, ME  04333
Telephone 207-287-5620, 1-800-322-8899
Fax 207-287-5624
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