Catalyst Grant
Introducing CLRC Catalyst Grants!
CLRC is excited to announce our new Catalyst Grants to replace our previous New Initiatives Grants! These grants are meant to help members work on new (to them) projects aiming to advance or expand their organization’s mission. We aim to fund ideas that could not be funded through traditional means. This covers programming, one-off events, plans to transform spaces, etc. Priority is given to projects that have the potential to inspire the greater CLRC community.
Eligibility/Rules & Requirements:
- Any full or affiliate member of CLRC is eligible.
- The institution applying for the grant must not have received a Catalyst Grant within the past calendar year.
Grant Amount:
Grants will be awarded in amounts of at least $300 and, at most, $2,000 as funds allow.
Deadline:
Grants will be awarded every six months. Applicants must submit a draft application and have a consultation with a member of the CLRC staff before submitting a final application.
Deadlines for submitting a draft application and requesting a consultation are March 1 and September 1.
Full application deadlines are March 31 and September 30.
Project Timeline:
The project should be completed one year after receiving funds. Extensions may be given if a progress report and the reason for the extension are explained before the one-year deadline.
Things to Consider:
- Does the project help to advance or expand the organization’s mission and strive to meet its community’s needs?
- Does this project either advance the field or level the field for your organization?
- Are the details and goals of the project clear and understandable?
- Is the budget for the project detailed and appropriate, given the outcomes?
Project Completion: If your project is funded, you must complete a final report and we may ask you to present a talk and/or poster at CLRC’s Annual Conference following the completion of the project.
Have any questions or concerns? Contact Rebecca Kluberdanz Honsinger at rhonsinger@clrc.org.
Erin Kovalsky, Supreme Court – Onondaga Law Library
Books for Pro Se: Building a Do-It-Yourself Legal Collection
This grant will fund a collection of circulating “plain English” books for self-represented (pro se) litigants in Onondaga County. The books selected are published by NOLO Press, which specializes in do-it-yourself legal resources for non-lawyers. The books were chosen based on the needs of our patrons as identified by reference interviews and library statistics.
Jennine Bloomquist, Camden Central Schools
The Mobile Reference Station
This project would modernize and double our access points for our online resources, as well as modernize and enhance the presentation process for instructors and special presenters using the library and its resources. Our primary goal is to minimize frustration with wait times, and provide our patrons opportunities to become independent in their choice and use of library materials–and I believe this project will help foster this “can do it myself” attitude.
Sara Alfaro, NOPL Brewerton
STEM Camp: Chemistry of Water in Brewerton
Discover the microscopic world that makes up everything around us as we dive into the minute world of molecules and chemistry. This is a 2-day STEM-themed camp for 5th – 9th graders focusing on the chemistry of water as it relates to local water sources.
Andrea Snyder, Skaneateles Library
Food, Crafts & Literacy, Oh my!
Funds will be used to increase the number of bilingual and Spanish language materials available in the library’s children’s collection. Library staff will also visit the Skaneateles Ecumenical Food Pantry at least once a month throughout the year to connect community members with library resources and information. Children will be provided take & make kits and books (that they get to keep!) during the food pantry visits.
Ariel Bero, Oneida Public Library
“Libraries of the Future” Art Gallery
The Oneida Public Library, which will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024, wants to showcase student artwork based on the question, “What will libraries look like in the next 100 years?” One of the goals of this project will be to buy frames and wall hangers that will be used for this gallery as well as future shows to alleviate some of the financial burden to struggling local artists who want to have a show at the library.
Sara Jo Brandt, Community Library of DeWitt and Jamesville
Large Print Accessibility through Kindles
The Community Library of DeWitt and Jamesville will purchase Kindle paperwhites to supplement large print reading materials for book clubs held in retirement communities and at the library.
Sarah O’Neill, Soule Branch – Onondaga County Public Library
Play Together: Inclusive Community Gaming
Soule Branch Library proposes the creation of a game collection that can be checked out for short-term use within the library only, for both drop-in play and scheduled events. The collection will be a variety of intergenerational, accessible, and entry-level games, with a special emphasis on games for adults with disabilities.
Scott Lipkowitz, Onondaga Free Library
Arduino Eclipse Monitor
Working in groups over the course of four sessions, teens and their families/friends will use an Arduino Uno, photoresistor, servo, LEDs, real time clock, digital display, and SD card module to build a solar eclipse monitor. During the April 8, 2024 eclipse, each monitor will be deployed at Onondaga Free Library to provide real-time displays of the eclipse’s progress and to record that data for later analysis. On April 9, participants will gather at the library to use Microsoft’s free data analysis tool Power BI to produce basic visualizations of the eclipse using the data retrieved from the monitors.
Derrick Pratt, Erie Canal Museum
Women on the Water Walking Tours
The Erie Canal Museum is receiving funds to support the development and implementation of a walking tour of Downtown Syracuse centered around the history of women and the women’s rights movement along the Erie Canal.
Melissa Wohler, Frankfort Free Library
Teen Art Exploration
This project will allow teens to explore different art disciplines in a series of interactive, hands-on workshops that complement their other interests.
Linda Weal, Old Forge Library
Earth Day 2024
The Old Forge Library will host an Earth Day event for about 60 people on Monday, April 22, 2024 that includes the following elements: Tree sapling giveaway, a DIY pollinator seed bomb activity, a DIY recycled coke bottle terrarium activity, a sing-along lead by Folk musicians Cosby Gibson & Tom Staudle, and a meal.
Leah Kraus, Fayetteville Free Library
Program Series for Adults with Developmental Disabilities
Grant funding will allow the library to host twice-monthly programs for adults with developmental disabilities and their aides and/or caregivers. We will purchase materials and snacks for these events, and pay experts for their time to lead specific specialized activities.
Sophia Brandt, Marcellus Free Library
Reimagining Library Services
This grant will allow the library to offer remote delivery of our physical materials, in conjunction with off-site delivery of programs.
Kristin Jeter, Syracuse University
Sensory-Friendly Equipment for Bird Library
We will purchase sensory-friendly equipment for the main branch of our campus library, Bird Library, for our patrons to borrow/use.
Sarah Heukrath, NOPL North Syracuse
STEAM To Go Kits
STEAM To Go Kits will allow young patrons do to STEAM projects on their own time. These kits will be added to NOPL North Syracuse’s circulating collection.
Carol Johnson, Onondaga County Public Library
Kitchen Academy
OCPL will partner with the Kitchen Literacy Project to present innovative food-related programs at city branch libraries. These programs will inspire people to learn more about food, where it comes from and how to prepare it.
Alissa Borelli, Liverpool Public Library
Artist in Residence
The Liverpool Public Library (LPL) will establish an Artist in Residence program in late August 2024. A local artist will lead a series of instruction classes for children, teens, and adults, while also continuing work on their own projects and holding open studio hours in the library for patrons to observe the artist at work. Upon the completion of the week, the artist and those who participated in the instructional programs will hold a show in the library.
Sarah Anson-Ordon, Everson Museum of Art
Earth Day at the Everson
In conjunction with its current exhibition, Janet Biggs: Imagination and Desire in a Northern Landscape, the Everson Museum of Art will host its first-ever Earth Day event on Sunday, April 21st. The Everson will host a variety of activities throughout the day relating to environmentalism and conservation.
Jillian Kervin, Waterville Public Library
Accessible and Engaging Book Displays
The Waterville Public Library consistently aims to improve accessibility for patrons. One aspect that our community has prioritized is this goal to increase all patrons’ ability to browse and select books independently by switching to more dynamic, forward facing shelving.
Jessica Rice, LaFayette Public Library
Nature Discovery Backpacks
The LaFayette Public Library will provide “Nature Discovery Backpacks” to patrons that will compliment their current state and county park passes. The backpacks will contain items such as binoculars, magnifying glasses, and field guides to local plants and animals.
Anne Debraggio & Laura Stoll, Kirkland Town Library
Level Up at the Library
This project will provide patrons access to Nintendo Switch gaming system(s) and video games for a variety of platforms (Switch, Xbox, Playstation).