1. Learning Labs in Libraries and Museums
Webinar for Grant Applicants
May 23, 2012

2. Connecting to the Webinar
• Be sure you can hear through your speakers,
headset, or phone.
• Dial in: 1 877 739 5903
• Access Code: 676-622-895 (PIN code)
• You will remain muted during this session.
• Please type questions into the question box.
• Questions will be saved and answered.
• To ensure confidentiality, attendee list is blocked.
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3. Agenda
• Program Description
• Applying for a Grant
• Award Timeline
• Questions
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4. Learning Labs Program Partners
• Joint initiative funded by the John D. and
Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the
Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
• Marsha Semmel, Director, Strategic Partnerships
• Urban Libraries Council (ULC) and Association of
Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) are partner
cooperators
• Amy Eshleman, ULC
• Margaret Glass, ASTC
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5. Program Description
“Grants support the planning and design of learning
labs in libraries and museums intended to engage
middle-and high-school youth in mentor-led,
interest-based, youth centered, collaborative
learning using digital and traditional media.”
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6. IMLS and MacArthur Foundation
 Public/private partnership: “Educate to Innovate”
 Goal to create a national network of Learning
Labs in libraries and museums
 Learning Labs will be spaces for experimentation
and creativity for teens and pre-teens around
digital and traditional media based on research
 Grants – to support planning and design
 Community of practice – to support sustainable
network
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7. Program Goals
• Promote libraries and museums as innovation
hubs for middle and high school youth
• Use current research, design and programming
principles to develop 21st century skills
• Build capacity of library and museum
professionals
• Produce model, replicable plans for the field
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8. Desired Outcomes
 A national network of Learning Labs distributed
across libraries and museums
 Increased connection of museums and libraries to
community networks of learning
 Libraries and museums placed at the forefront of
21st century learning for youth
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9. Target Audience/Setting
• Middle- and high-school aged youth
• Out-of-school time learning actively managed by
a library or museum
• Accessible program settings
• Applications encouraged from libraries and
museums serving populations across a broad
range of social, economic, and geographic
contexts
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10. Overview of Grant Activities
Awardee Support
• Up to $100,000 for planning and design of a
Learning Lab
• Technical assistance and support for staff through
in-person meetings and online events
• Access to the most up-to-date research about
youth learning and digital media
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11. Overview of Grant Activities
Awardee Expectations
• Budget resources and time for professional
development meetings and events
• Formulate and carry out evaluation for proposed
Learning Lab
• Develop a feasible plan for implementation and
sustainability of the Learning Lab
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12. Program resource: www.youmedia.org
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13. Applying for a Grant
www.imls.gov
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14. Grant Basics
• Eligible Institutions: Museums, Libraries
• Application deadline: June 15
• Awards up to $100,000 each
• Cost sharing of at least one-third is encouraged
• Up to 14 Learning Labs will be awarded for 2013
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15. Program Guidelines
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16. Eligibility - General
• Learning Labs will be in Libraries and Museums
• Criteria for organizations identified by IMLS in
Learning Labs program guidelines
• Either a unit of state or local government, or a
501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, whose primary
mission is to serve libraries, archives, or
museums
• Located in one of the 50 states or territories
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17. Application Components
A competitive application will demonstrate:
• Knowledge of the research on youth learning
and digital media
• Support of leadership: institutional and
community
• Capacity to create physical and online spaces
that follow research-based design principles
about youth learning and digital media
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18. Narrative Components
• Statement of Need
• Project Goals and Impact
• Project Design
• Project Resources: Personnel, Time, Budget
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19. Submitting Your Proposal
• Submit through Grants.gov.
• Register with Grants.gov at least two weeks
prior to the grant program deadline.
• Need a D-U-N-S® Number to register with
Grants.gov. You may need additional time to get
this number.
• Applicants need Central Contractor
Registration (CCR). User’s guide at
www.bpn.gov/ccr/doc/CCRUsersGuide.pdf. CCR
registration must be renewed annually.
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20. Apply through Grants.gov
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21. Selection Process
• Competitive process
• Peer review with field and panel reviewers
representing museums, libraries, digital media
and learning science professionals
• Final award decisions made by IMLS
• All applicants will be notified of their proposal
status in late Fall, 2012
• Up to 14 Learning Labs will be awarded for 2013
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22. Award Timeline
• June 15: Final day for proposals
• July – September: Peer review process
• Late Fall, 2012– New Learning Labs announced
• January 1, 2013 – Award start date
• June 30, 2014 – Award end date (18 months)
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23. Questions?
• Please type questions into the question box.
• “Office Hours” for applicants: June 5, 11
• View presentation, see FAQ on Learning Labs
Technical Assistance tumblr:
http://learninglabswebinar.tumblr.com/
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24. Contact Us!
For program information:
Margaret Glass, mglass@astc.org
202.783.7200 x 129
Amy Eshleman, aeshleman@urbanlibraries.org
312.676.0958
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25. Thank you!
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