LEH supporting public libraries through Rebirth PL Grants

The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities is offering a special grant stream this year dedicated specifically to our state’s crucial public libraries. Rebirth PL Grants, an off-shoot of our annual Rebirth Grants program, will support Louisiana public libraries’ transition to serving their communities virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds can be used for digital humanities programming, the acquisition of equipment and supplies to bolster virtual capabilities, or a combination of the two.

Suggested uses for these funds include, but are not limited to:

Launch virtual humanities programming
Adapt in-person humanities programs for online delivery
Subscriptions to or training for use of streaming platforms

AWARD AMOUNT

Grants range from $1,000 to $7,000 and are available only to Louisiana public libraries.

Cost share is not required for Rebirth PL Grants.

CRITERIA

All public library applicants must have a DUNS number.

REVIEW PROCESS AND RESOURCES

All LEH Rebirth and Rebirth PL Grants are subject to the same review process, which begins with the staff evaluating proposals prior to submitting them to the Grant Review Committee (GRC), which is comprised of LEH board members, staff, and Louisiana scholars. The GRC makes comments in four categories:

Strength of humanities content (definition below)
Outreach strategies
Partnerships with institutions, scholars, and other humanities organizations
LEH priorities, including incorporation in 64 Parishes magazine, region of the state, and special audiences

What are the humanities?

From the National Endowment for the Humanities: “the term ‘humanities’ includes, but is not limited to, the study of the following: language, both modern and classical; linguistics; literature; history; jurisprudence; philosophy; archaeology; comparative religion; ethics; the history, criticism and theory of the arts; those aspects of social sciences which have humanistic content and employ humanistic methods; and the study and application of the humanities to the human environment with particular attention to reflecting our diverse heritage, traditions, and history and to the relevance of the humanities to the current conditions of national life.

For reference, download a PDF of a past Rebirth_Grant_Application.

It is strongly encouraged that potential applicants should read through these guidelines before submitting an application.

Sample Rebirth Application Narratives and Budgets

Below are excerpts from successful Rebirth Grant applications. Excerpts include project descriptions, overviews of the humanities content that helped make these applications successful, information on audiences and outreach, and sample budgets. Scholar names and applicant contact information have been removed from excerpts.

For more information on Rebirth or Rebirth PL Grants, contact Grants Manager Chris Robert at [email protected] or (504) 620-2639.

Rebirth and Rebirth PL Grants are made possible with the support of the National Endowment for the Humanities and Union Pacific Foundation.