Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants Program | NAG ENHANCEMENT FY16

Opportunity Information: Apply for NAG ENHANCEMENT FY16

The Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) designed to help eligible Native communities strengthen library services. The intent is to support projects that either improve services a tribal library already provides or launch new services that better meet community needs. The program is closely tied to priorities set out in the Museum and Library Services Act, emphasizing practical improvements in how people learn, access information, and use library resources in their daily lives.

Projects funded through this program are expected to align with one or more national library service goals reflected in the IMLS statute. In plain terms, the grant is meant to expand learning opportunities and access to information in multiple formats for all ages, including support for education, lifelong learning, workforce development, and digital literacy. It also encourages stronger connections between libraries and other organizations through electronic linkages, shared systems, and better coordination that improves both quality and access to services. Another major focus is workforce support: training, continuing education, leadership development for current staff, and efforts that help recruit and prepare future library professionals.

The program also places value on collaboration and community partnership. Applicants are encouraged to build public and private partnerships with other agencies and community-based organizations when those relationships make services stronger or more sustainable. Equity and access are central themes as well, with specific attention to serving people across diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic circumstances, including individuals with disabilities and people with limited literacy or information skills. The goals also explicitly include reaching people who struggle to use library services and communities that have historically been underserved, including rural and urban areas and children from families below the poverty line. Finally, the program supports broader networking and collaboration so users can access information through local, state, regional, national, and even international connections, along with other activities consistent with the Library Services and Technology Act purposes under IMLS.

Eligibility is limited to federally recognized Indian tribes and Alaska Native entities, specifically Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages, regional corporations, and village corporations. While organizations such as libraries, schools, tribal colleges, and tribal education departments can participate in carrying out the work and can even provide staff who serve as project directors, they cannot apply as the official applicant. The applicant must be an eligible tribal entity. For the purposes of this program, "Indian tribe" follows the federal definition: a recognized tribe, band, nation, or other organized community acknowledged by the Secretary of the Interior as eligible for federal programs and services due to their status. Eligibility can be verified through Bureau of Indian Affairs lists for tribes, while Alaska Native entities should rely on the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act definitions and provisions.

A key requirement is that an Enhancement Grant application will only be reviewed if the applicant will also have an active Native American Library Services Basic Grant in the same fiscal year. In other words, the Enhancement Grant is not a standalone entry point; it is intended as an add-on to strengthen or extend work supported through the Basic Grant.

For the FY2016 cycle reflected in the source data, the opportunity was listed under Funding Opportunity Number NAG ENHANCEMENT FY16 (CFDA 45.311) in the Arts and Humanities activity category. The application deadline was April 15, 2016. Awards could be as large as $150,000, and IMLS expected to make about 10 awards.

• The Institute of Museum and Library Services in the arts, humanities sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.311.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-01-28.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-04-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for NAG ENHANCEMENT FY16

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: