Ontario Libraries Capacity Fund Research and Innovation Grant

Ontario Libraries Capacity Fund, administered by Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport

Agency: State

GrantWatch ID #159697

Grant Description

Grants to Ontario public libraries and library organizations for research projects or innovative projects that will improve the Province's public libraries. Applicants applying for research projects are encouraged to collaborate with other organizations. Funding priorities are as follows:

Evaluation of the impact that libraries have on Ontario residents; enhancing role libraries play in creating community and quality of life opportunities; develop new ways to meet Ontarians' needs; and enhancing capacity of library management and leadership.

Specifically, the Research and Innovation stream of the Ontario Libraries Capacity Fund supports new, replicable research and innovative projects that will have the potential for a positive impact on Ontario’s public libraries.

The program’s priorities are to:

1. Measure and evaluate the impact of public libraries on their communities and the well being of Ontarians.

2. Strengthen and enhance the role of public libraries as community hubs that are focused on creating cultural, educational, social and economic opportunities.

3. Encourage the development of new ways to engage with and meet the changing needs of all Ontarians.

4. Develop new strategies and processes for identifying and preparing leadership candidates for success in senior management roles within the Ontario public library sector.

Applicants must show that their proposed project meets the following criteria:

- Is a research or innovation project
- Directly supports at least one of the OLCF R&I priorities
- Will have a positive impact on the public library sector, as a whole, or a significant segment of that sector (such as First Nations or northern public libraries)
- Is replicable, scalable and/or applicable to communities outside your own
- Will not replicate projects previously done in the public library sector
- Will be measurable and widely adoptable or adaptable
- Will be undertaken in Ontario (can be part of a national project, or project taking place in more than one province)

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Eligibility:

Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)

Additional Eligibility Criteria:

Public libraries and public library organizations are eligible to apply for an OLCF R&I grant. Organizations that do not meet these criteria may participate as partners.

Applicants must be one of the following:

- An Ontario public library, funded under the Public Libraries Act
- An incorporated Ontario public library organization representing or working on behalf of public libraries
- An Ontario Library Service agency
- An incorporated national public library organization, with Ontario representation

You may choose to include partners in your proposed project. If you do, you must submit a letter from each partner outlining their involvement and any in-kind or financial support they will provide. Any of the following organization types can be project partners:

• Nonprofit organizations
• For-profit organizations
• First Nations
• Municipalities
• Classified agencies of the Province
• Hospitals and health organizations
• Boards of Trade and Chambers of Commerce
• Private and public schools
• Colleges and universities
• Public and private foundations

Pre-Application Information:

If you are not yet registered on Grants Ontario, you must complete the one-time two-step registration process as soon as possible. The registration process can take up to 5 business days. Instructions on how to complete this process are provided in OLCF R&I Program Guidelines Part II, Section 2.

If you’re applying for funding for a research project, you are encouraged to collaborate with organizations that have research expertise, such as universities and healthcare organizations.

Note: Project partners cannot be paid for the goods or services that they provide.

The results of your research project must be made publicly available at no cost. You are encouraged to publish the research in English and French and in accessible formats.

Additional Funding Information:

Estimated Total Program Funding:

$1,000,000

Estimated Size of Grant:

A maximum of $100,000 is available per year; $200,000 over two years.

Term of Contract:

Projects are eligible for one or two years of funding beginning no sooner than the date of funding approval and ending on or before March 31, 2017 for one-year projects, and March 31, 2018 for two-year projects.

Contact Information:

For assistance with Grants Ontario registration or application submission, please contact Grants Ontario customer service:

Monday to Friday from 8:30AM to 5:00 PM EST
Toll Free: 1- 855-216-3090 or in the GTA: (416) 325-6691
Email: GrantsOntarioCS@ontario.ca

Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport
Programs and Services Branch
Culture Programs Unit
RI-OLCF-FOCB@ontario.ca

RFP & Supporting Documents:

Full Grant Text RFP

Before starting your grant application, please review the funding source's website listed below for updates / changes / addendums / conferences / LOIs.

159697_prdr013640.pdf