Oregon LSTA Grants

LSTA+ODNP Newspaper Digitization Grants

Through a new partnership between University of Oregon Libraries' Oregon Digital Newspaper Program and the State Library of Oregon's Library Services & Technology Act (LSTA) Program, Oregon libraries and their communities will soon have a newly streamlined funding option to have local newspapers added to U of O Libraries' Historic Oregon Newspapers database.

Funding

The State Library of Oregon has budgeted a total of $20,000 of Oregon's FY2020 Library Service & Technology Act (LSTA) allotment for these grants, pending federal appropriations for the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS). We anticipate funding as many as three (3) projects in this cycle, depending on the applications received.

Timeline

Prospective applicants must contact Sarah Seymore (click to email), ODNP Program Manager, University of Oregon Libraries, by December 1, 2019 for a consultation on page count estimates and to discuss rights/permissions issues. Following this consultation, a simple application form will be sent to prospective applicants to be completed and submitted to the State Library of Oregon by March 1, 2020.

Eligibility and project requirements

• Any library, school, federally recognized tribe, or partnering organization in Oregon that is eligible for LSTA funding may apply
• Content must be free from copyright, or the grant applicant must have written permission from the rights holder(s) to digitize content
• Applicant must include a plan for a public program and/or a promotional effort to publicize the project, from which they will track and report measurable outcomes
• Applicant will agree to have the Oregon Digital Newspaper Program at the University of Oregon Libraries digitize and host the content

Application evaluation criteria

The most successful applications will:

• Represent diverse communities and/or regions in Oregon, especially those not currently represented in ODNP
• Demonstrate a clear scope and a manageable amount of content to be digitized, through prior consultation with staff at ODNP
• Show a clear plan for promoting the digitized content through public programming, with bonus points for using digital newspapers in curriculum/classroom instruction
• Have clear rights and/or permissions secured prior to application deadline

Questions?

Please contact Ross Fuqua (click to email) at the State Library of Oregon for more information!