Carolyn Markuson School Library Innovation Grant
Statement of Purpose
Throughout her career Carolyn Markuson was a strong advocate for school librarianship. She was a mentor and inspiration for school librarians across the New England region. This grant honors the passion, innovation, dedication, and influence that Carolyn brought to the field of school librarianship, both in the U.S. and internationally, through her teaching, mentoring, leadership, publications, and consulting. This grant aims to encourage school librarians to design innovative special projects which engage students by providing financial support to implement these projects.
Co-Chairs
Rolf Erikson & Fran Zilonis
The Grant Award
1. Funding for this grant to support the winning project is up to $500 and an initial payment or renewal for one year’s
membership for the award recipient in ALA and AASL.
2. Applications for the 2023-24 school year are due on April 3, 2023.
3. The successful grant award will be announced by May 31, 2023 for projects to begin between September 2023 to
March 1, 2024 and which are to be completed by April 30, 2024.
membership for the award recipient in ALA and AASL.
2. Applications for the 2023-24 school year are due on April 3, 2023.
3. The successful grant award will be announced by May 31, 2023 for projects to begin between September 2023 to
March 1, 2024 and which are to be completed by April 30, 2024.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants are current members of the New England School Library Association.
2. Applicants may join when applying for the grant. Please see button to join NESLA below.
3. Applicants are state licensed school librarians.
4. All previous award winners are ineligible to apply. Projects in progress and planned projects in need of financial
assistance are eligible.
2. Applicants may join when applying for the grant. Please see button to join NESLA below.
3. Applicants are state licensed school librarians.
4. All previous award winners are ineligible to apply. Projects in progress and planned projects in need of financial
assistance are eligible.
Criteria for Selection and Awarding of the Grant
Ranking of the applications by the Grant Committee will be based on 100 possible points. The number of points is
indicated in parentheses following each description. Applicants will complete the application form online (insert link)
that includes the following information:
1. Project description of not more than 2,000 words, including a title, and a statement of how it is innovative, who benefits from it, and how it is helpful to their school library programs and/or the school community, and/or the community-at-large. (15 points)
2. What is the goal or goals of the project? (It is recommended that the applicant limit the number of goals to no
more than two.) (15 points)
3. What are the steps the applicant will take to implement the project goal or goals? (20 points)
4. What is the timeline for implementation of these specific steps for each goal? (15 points)
5. What is the budget for each of these specific steps? (15 points)
6. How will the applicant evaluate the project to determine goal achievement? Please provide a complete evaluation
plan based on each goal. (20 points)
7. Provide a profile of the applicant’s school and school library, including demographics and percentage of student
population qualified for the Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) program. (Required)
8. Provide a letter of acknowledgement from the applicant’s school administrator, i.e., if the principal is not also the
applicant’s immediate supervisor, a letter will also be required from the applicant’s immediate supervisor (e.g.,
Director of Libraries). (Required)
Notes:
1. The Grant Committee may take the school’s geographic location into consideration when determining the grant recipient.
2. Will anyone other than the applicant be required to participate to make the project successful? If so, please include a signed letter from that person or persons in which they outline what they will be doing for the project and a statement from them agreeing to participate.
3. The Grant Committee encourages applicants to use the grant to leverage a matching grant from other sources such as their Parent Teacher Organization, local foundations, but not limited to these sources.
Optional: The applicant may submit pictures/exhibits that would assist in the explanation of the project. If images are included, please do not include images of students.
indicated in parentheses following each description. Applicants will complete the application form online (insert link)
that includes the following information:
1. Project description of not more than 2,000 words, including a title, and a statement of how it is innovative, who benefits from it, and how it is helpful to their school library programs and/or the school community, and/or the community-at-large. (15 points)
2. What is the goal or goals of the project? (It is recommended that the applicant limit the number of goals to no
more than two.) (15 points)
3. What are the steps the applicant will take to implement the project goal or goals? (20 points)
4. What is the timeline for implementation of these specific steps for each goal? (15 points)
5. What is the budget for each of these specific steps? (15 points)
6. How will the applicant evaluate the project to determine goal achievement? Please provide a complete evaluation
plan based on each goal. (20 points)
7. Provide a profile of the applicant’s school and school library, including demographics and percentage of student
population qualified for the Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) program. (Required)
8. Provide a letter of acknowledgement from the applicant’s school administrator, i.e., if the principal is not also the
applicant’s immediate supervisor, a letter will also be required from the applicant’s immediate supervisor (e.g.,
Director of Libraries). (Required)
Notes:
1. The Grant Committee may take the school’s geographic location into consideration when determining the grant recipient.
2. Will anyone other than the applicant be required to participate to make the project successful? If so, please include a signed letter from that person or persons in which they outline what they will be doing for the project and a statement from them agreeing to participate.
3. The Grant Committee encourages applicants to use the grant to leverage a matching grant from other sources such as their Parent Teacher Organization, local foundations, but not limited to these sources.
Optional: The applicant may submit pictures/exhibits that would assist in the explanation of the project. If images are included, please do not include images of students.
Examples of Grant Concepts
1. An instructional unit in collaboration with a classroom teacher that explores evaluation of misinformation and
disinformation.
2. A project that promotes inclusion, diversity, or experiential learning involving members of the greater community (e.g., small businesses, local banks, the public library).
3. A school-wide arts program that brings writers, artists and/or musicians from the community to share their talents.
4. An evidence-based project that examines the strengths and areas for improvement in the school library program
to identify strategies for positive change.
5. A literacy project that addresses social and emotion learning to promote reading and inclusion of diverse print and digital reading formats.
6. Revision or development of the school library website that promotes inclusion, open education resources as well as strategies to develop the print and/or digital collection.
7. A budget-friendly school library design project that promotes use and accessibility.
disinformation.
2. A project that promotes inclusion, diversity, or experiential learning involving members of the greater community (e.g., small businesses, local banks, the public library).
3. A school-wide arts program that brings writers, artists and/or musicians from the community to share their talents.
4. An evidence-based project that examines the strengths and areas for improvement in the school library program
to identify strategies for positive change.
5. A literacy project that addresses social and emotion learning to promote reading and inclusion of diverse print and digital reading formats.
6. Revision or development of the school library website that promotes inclusion, open education resources as well as strategies to develop the print and/or digital collection.
7. A budget-friendly school library design project that promotes use and accessibility.
Responsibilities of the Grant Recipients
1. Because it is the hope of the Grant Committee to encourage replication of successful projects, the Grant Committee asks that within twelve months of receipt of the grant the recipient deliver a one to two-page documentation of and reflection on the project explaining what was learned and how it might be improved. If images are included please do not include images of students.
2. Grant recipients agree to author or co-author an article about the project for publication, in print or digital format, in a school library journal, school library association newsletter, or any other educational publication.
2. Grant recipients agree to author or co-author an article about the project for publication, in print or digital format, in a school library journal, school library association newsletter, or any other educational publication.