These questions and answers come from the ATM New Century Grant Workshop
held this morning.

3.  Do we need a 50% local match in funds to obtain New Century Grants this
year?
Answer:  Yes, if you are asking for a $20,000,000 grant you must be able to
match this with $20,000 of local cash, or in-kind support.  Your cash match
may come from federal grants or any funding sources other than the State of
Maine.  Your entire local match may be in in-kind services and
staff/volunteer support.

4.  Can we apply for construction funds?
Answer: No, because of the limited amount of current funding for New Century
Grants, construction grants will not be accepted this year.  However, you
may apply for facility studies and concept drawings from architects.  You
may not apply for architectural construction drawings as they are considered
an integral part of construction.

5.  What is question 7D on page 5 asking for?
Answer:  This is requesting an action plan.  What steps do you need to take
to meet your time-based, measurable objectives?  It is one thing to say "The
Brooks Public Library will implement a children's story hour that will serve
25 children by June of 2002" but what will have to occur to make this
happen?  To quote Jon Hardie, this question hits at "Who, what, when, where
and how much".  The "why" has been answered in questions 7A and 7B.

6.  Can 7F be clarified?
Answer:  Partners and key staffers named to carry out your project should
each identify time-based, measurable objectives as their contribution.
Example related to the story hour scenario above -  "As my contribution to
the success of the Brooks Public Library children's story hour, I will (1)
get written publicity to each daycare provider in town and (2) provide
written information to two newspapers at least three weeks before the first
scheduled story hour."

7.  Will a final report be required from each library receiving a New
Century Grant this year?
Yes,  as the grants are completed, each participating library will be asked
to send the Maine State Library  their time-based, measurable objectives
with a comment on if and how each was achieved.  Libraries will also be
asked to write a paragraph about what they have learned from their grant and
this process.  (This is separate from the financial reports.)

8.  When does the grant money have to be spent?  Money must be encumbered by
June 30, 2002.  It must be spent by May, 2003.  This is a critical point as
once money has been set aside for a library (by June 30, 2002) it can not be
given to another library.  Failure to use New Century Grant money once it
has been awarded, means the funding will go back into the State's general
coffers.

If you have further questions or need additional clarification, please use
my e-mail address below.  This list does not accept incoming mail.  Thanks!


Linda H. Lord
Director of Library Development
Maine State Library
64 State House Station
Augusta, ME
04333
Telephone 207-287-5620
FAX  207-287-5624
e-mail  [log in to unmask]
www.state.me.us/msl/