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Sustainable & Resilient New England Libraries Grant FAQsApplication Process | Eligibility Requirements | Application Review & Reporting RequirementsApplication ProcessQ. How long will the application take me to fill out? A. We can't give you an exact time, because it depends on a few factors, but we would estimate 1.5-2 hours. If that sounds like a lot, please don't let it dissuade you! In that estimation we are including the time to plan your project, review the questions, gather any necessary details, and think about and write your responses. When they read your proposal, our reviewers will want to learn about your community, your plans, and how this funding and training will make a difference. Q. Where can I find general grant writing support? A. For tips on writing a competitive grant, watch the Programming Librarian webinars below: You can also check out the Budget & Funding Resources from WebJunction. Q. May I preview the grant application before completing it? A. Yes. You may download a PDF of the application for reference. Q. May applications be submitted by mail or fax? A. No. Applications must be submitted online via the Submittable Grant Portal by 6:00 pm PT / 7:00 MT / 8:00 CT / 9:00 pm ET on Monday, March 10, 2026. Applications that are late or incomplete will not be reviewed. Having trouble with Submittable? Please contact the Submittable support team. Q. Are there any ineligible expenses for the grant funds? A. Yes. Grant funds may not be used to support indirect costs (e.g. general library administrative expenses), general operating expenses, or as donations to other organizations. Q. Does ARSL have rules or guidelines around the use of generative AI/large language models (example: ChatGPT) in the development of grant application materials? A. While the use of AI tools to assist in crafting your application responses is not explicitly prohibited, the selection committee strongly encourages applicants to rely on their own words and perspectives. Authenticity and a genuine personal voice are highly valued in the application process, as they allow the committee to better understand your unique experiences and perspectives. If applicable, applicants must ensure that AI-assisted content is reviewed to ensure accuracy, appropriateness, and relevance to the purpose of the grant, and no confidential information is placed in third-party AI application tools. Eligibility RequirementsQ. I received a grant as part of a previous Sustainable & Resilient New England Libraries Grant. Am I eligible to apply for the current round of grant funding? A. Yes. Grant awards from prior funding rounds in the Sustainable & Resilient New England Libraries Grant program will not impact your eligibility to apply for the current grant. However, first-time recipients will be prioritized over past recipients. Q. What types of libraries are eligible? A. This opportunity is open to any type of library serving populations meeting the IMLS definition of a small and/or rural library in the U.S. that serves a community(ies) in the following states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont. Q. What do you mean by a rural and/or small community? A. The Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) defines a rural community as one that is more than, or equal to, ten miles from an urbanized area (defined as a town/city with a population of 25,000 or greater) and small communities to have a population of 25,000 or less. If, after reading through the guidelines provided here, you are still unsure whether your library qualifies, please reach out to our office at [email protected]. We’ll be happy to talk with you to help you determine whether your library falls within these parameters. Q. I’m from an academic library serving a student population of less than 25,000 but we are located in a city. Is my library eligible for this opportunity? A. No. In order to be eligible, academic libraries must be located in and serve a small and/or rural community that meets the IMLS definition above. Q. My library service population is greater than 25,000; however, all of the communities we serve are small/rural. Are we eligible? A. Many rural libraries serve communities in their surrounding area and thus may have a total service population that is greater than 25,000. As long as there are no towns/cities in or within 10 miles of your service area with a population of 25,000 or more, you would be eligible as a rural library. Q. My library serves a small/rural community but is part of a consortium of libraries that serves more populated and/or less isolated areas as well. Is my library eligible? A. Yes. If the applicant library serves a small/rural community it is eligible. Q. My library serves a small/rural community; however, due to the way libraries are organized in our state, we are part of a regional/county/state institution that serves larger areas. Is my library eligible? A. Yes, even if libraries in your state are part of a single state-wide institution or are organized into regional/county systems, as long as the library or branch that is applying serves a small/rural population and the funding awarded would directly support the operations of that library/branch, it would be eligible. Q. I work in a tribal library in a small and/or rural community. Is my library eligible to apply? A. Yes. Tribal libraries serving small and/or rural communities are eligible to apply. Q. Are non-accredited libraries allowed to apply? A. Yes. Non-accredited libraries (e.g.: volunteer-run libraries) are allowed to apply. Q. Do libraries need to be registered 501(c)3 organizations to apply? A. No, 501(c)3 status is not a requirement for eligibility. Q. Do libraries need to be members of the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) to apply? A. No, ARSL membership is not a requirement for eligibility. Application Review & Reporting RequirementsQ. How many grants will be awarded? A. The number of awards will be determined by the amounts requested by individual applicants. We anticipate awarding anywhere from 30-50 grants. Q. How will I be notified about the status of my application? A. You will receive a confirmation email as soon as your application is submitted. All applicants will be notified of their award status via email in mid-April. Q. Can I edit my application after it has been submitted? A. No. Applications cannot be edited once they are submitted. Q. How will my library’s proposal be reviewed? A. Proposals will be assessed by a panel of library workers serving small and rural communities, led by the ARSL Grants, Awards & Scholarships (GAS) Committee. The GAS Committee will make the final decisions based on peer reviewer feedback using a rubric designed to align with the application questions. Q. What are the reporting requirements for this grant? A. Grantees will be required to submit a brief, standardized report form at the end of the grant process detailing your project’s implementation, outcomes, and impacts. Photos are not required but appreciated. *This information may be used for social media and the ARSL Dispatch newsletter in the future. Q. We are anticipating leadership turnover during the grant project. How do we account for that on our application? A. If you know your library will undergo a leadership change (e.g. retirement, planned extended leave) during the grant project you should indicate the current individual authorized to enter into contracts and/or make purchasing decisions on behalf of your organization. If possible, we recommend using an email address that will continue to be checked after the outgoing leader’s departure, like a general library@ or director@ address, rather than one tied to a specific individual. This will ensure continuity of communication between your library and the ARSL Office. When the leadership change occurs you will need to notify the ARSL office ([email protected]) of that change, and we will update our records accordingly. Q. Are grantees required to submit receipts or proofs of purchase for grant-funded materials? A. No, receipts or proofs of purchase are not a requirement of this grant. |
The Association for Rural & Small Libraries
© Copyright 2026 The Association for Rural & Small Libraries. All rights reserved.
© Copyright 2026 The Association for Rural & Small Libraries. All rights reserved.
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