There are many grants which are available through SEKLS for member libraries.

ALLOCATION GRANTS

The regional library systems began as organizations of public libraries only, and have remained part of the funding pattern for the support of public library service in the state.
SEKLS provides extended service grants, or allocations, to public libraries. To receive a System allocation or grant, a library must:

• Be eligible for the full amount of State Aid
• Comply with all applicable state laws and regulations regarding public libraries; including composition of library board, provision of free library service to all residents of territory comprising the SEKLS, etc. Where cities have used home rule authority to exempt themselves from provisions of state law regarding libraries, the library will be held to remain in compliance with the 2nd requirement, as long as such exemption does not alter the powers and duties of the library board.
• For more information, click on the Allocation Grant Guideline Download link on left.

COMPETITIVE GRANTS

SEKLS offers a competitive grant of some type annually. All SEKLS members are eligible to apply for a limited amount of funding. Public libraries must qualify for the full system allocation in order to be eligible for competitive grants. The 2021 SEKLS competitive grant will be a Collection Development Grant. The grant applications will be available for submission in mid-August.

CONTINUING EDUCATION GRANTS

Recognizing the importance of continuing education to library service, the Southeast Kansas Library System urges all member libraries to provide time and financial support for staff members and trustees to attend appropriate continuing education activities. To supplement what libraries are able to provide, SEKLS offers three types of continuing education grants. The three types of Continuing Education grants are:

• State library association conference grants ($250 maximum)
• General Continuing Education grants ($250 maximum, with exception for national conferences)
• Small Library Attendance Support grants ($100 maximum)

DREAM GRANTS

The Dream Grant is available to help SEKLS members implement their dreams for their libraries. Dream Grant projects must be projects the library wishes to implement, with expenses connected with the project falling largely outside funding eligibility for single SEKLS competitive grants. Special consideration will be given to projects which are innovative new services in that library. Dream Grants may be applied for at any time of year.

MATERIALS DELIVERY GRANTS

There are two parts to the Materials Delivery Grant. Part A is a reimbursement for money already spent on postage or other (non-courier) shipping costs for interlibrary loan materials during the prior year. Part B is reimbursement or pre-imbursement of a portion of courier costs.

PROGRAMMING GRANTS

All SEKLS members (school, academic, public, and special libraries) are eligible. Programs designed primarily for staff members of the library or institution are not eligible (for instance, in-service speakers), but must be designed for the population the library serves. No more than one grant will be funded for any member during a calendar year. A school district is one member, regardless of the number of libraries in the district. Grants to participate in the Summer Storyteller’s Tour are available only to public libraries with budgets under $18,000 annually. Public libraries with budgets above $18,000 are eligible for grants for other children’s programs between June 1 and August 31 if they have participated in the SEKLS Storyteller’s Tour.

ACADEMIC-SCHOOL EXTENDED SERVICE GRANTS

Grants are provided in compensation for service to the general public. To be eligible for the Academic/School Extended Service Grant, a library must:

• Be open to the public during most hours it is open to students of the institution
• Have a collection of materials
• Have a full-time librarian

The amount of each grant is determined by two factors: the FTE enrollment of the institution and the percent of circulation to persons who are not students or employees of the parent institution, called extended service circulation. Interlibrary loans made to other libraries may be included in calculating extended service circulation.