CCDI Libraries, Archives, Museums Q&As

This post was updated on August 30, 2023 to include additional answers to questions about this opportunity.

The Connecting Communities Digital Initiative (CCDI) announced the next open application period for their Libraries, Archives, Museums awards on May 17, 2023.

Applications are due by 2pm Eastern Time on September 7, 2023.

If you have a question about the Libraries, Archives, Museums awards, please send an email to [email protected]. Please write your email subject as follows: Notice 030ADV23R0035 – Of the People Widening the Path: Connecting Communities Digital Initiative – 2023.

Below you will find responses to questions we’ve received about this opportunity:

1. We’d like to apply for the Library of Congress’ upcoming grant opportunity: “Of the People” and this would be our first time applying for an LOC grant. Would it be possible to set up an informational call with you or a member of your team to ask a few questions about making our application as competitive as possible?Per Section D.2 of the Notice of Funding Opportunity, questions relating to this Notice must be submitted via email to [email protected] no later August 25, 2023 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. There is a pre-recorded webinar with more information about this Notice on the Libraries, Archives, and Museums application page. A recording of the Live Q&A will also be available on that website soon.

2. I had two questions regarding the grant. The 1st one is can you submit more than one project idea when applying for the grant? Meaning we would use the grant money to cover two topics but get the same results. The money would be spent on equipment to help with the collection of local oral history along with a professor that would teach a class on how to write your history. Along with a presentation of the complete work of those involved.The 2nd is can you focus on more than one group? For example Black and Latinx individuals.

   Question 1: We do not consider this two projects but different components of a single project, which is allowable.

   Question 2: Yes, you can focus on more than one group. Per Section A of the Notice of Funding Opportunity: The Library will provide financial support to enable libraries, archives and museums to use Library of Congress digital materials to create projects that center one or more of the following groups Black, Indigenous, Hispanic or Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and/or other communities of color in the United States.

3. Our organization does not have non-profit status however, we do have a fiscal sponsor that does have non-profit and has the ability to accept grants on our behalf. Is this allowed under this grant?Per Section C.2 of the Notice of Funding Opportunity, the Library will only issue an award to a single organization that meets the eligibility requirements stated in the Notice. The organization can choose to sub-contract part of the work to other organizations. However, the organization to which the award is issued is responsible for all aspects of the award, as the Library will have no contractual relationship with any other organization or contractor. If your organization does not have non-profit status per Section C of the Notice, it is ineligible to receive this award.

4. For background, I’m part of a collective effort creating XX. We’re ~40 ex-XX workers and allies, led by XX and XX. Along with XX who leads partnerships, I’m the research manager helping bring this archive effort to life. We’re a fiscally-sponsored nonprofit project.
   

   Now, my main question to you is about our best fit for CCDI. Our recommender XX wondered if we might qualify for the “Libraries, Archives, Museums.” On the other hand, we wondered if we’re more of a fit for the “Artist/Scholar in Residence” grant – but, as a collective VS as an individual.

   Yes, your project appears to be a better fit for the Libraries, Archives and Museums opportunity rather than the Artist or Scholar in Residence (ASR) award (030ADV23R0033). The latter is only open to individuals, as described in Section C.2 of the ASR Notice of Funding Opportunity. Please be sure to clearly indicate in your application that you are a community archive or a digital archive.

   Please refer to the Library’s update on the Twitter Archive: blogs.loc.gov/loc/2017/12/update-on-the-twitter-archive-at-the-library-of-congress-2/

5. We would like to apply for the Museum Grant so we can put it towards our XX Project.

   We were hoping to use the money toward researching and obtaining rights for the assets (photos, audio, video etc.) we will need for the interactive map and augmented reality app.

   In reading the documentation it seems like we already need to have the items we will use identified and the rights sorted out so we wouldn’t be able to use the grant for this — is that correct?

   In section E.1 of the Notice of Funding Opportunity, we ask if the Library has the digital collections and materials needed for the project and if the applicant has identified them. That is one of the evaluation criteria because we want to be sure that there are digital collections and materials for an applicant to work with. Also in that section, the Library asks applicants to “address” whether the digital collections and materials are legally available for use in the ways proposed in the application. Because there are different restrictions for different materials, and sometimes no restrictions at all, we want to be sure that the applicant is aware of the parameters for the materials they intend to use for its project. However, “address” is a key word. The Library does not expect applicants to have “the rights sorted out,” but it does expect applicants to do research on the materials they want to use

6. Dear friends, I’d like request a PDF copy of this file via email, as I’m unable to access it via my browser: https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/of-the-people/apply/documents/SF424_Short_3_0-V3.0.pdf

   The Application for Federal Domestic Assistance-Short Organizational Form SF-424 cannot be viewed in-browser. Applicants must download the form and open it in an application which can read PDF files (such as Adobe Reader or Acrobat) in order to view and complete the form.

   The Form and instructions for completing it can be downloaded directly from grants.gov at the following link: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-short-organization-family.html

7. We understand that, according to the published Application and Submission Information provided in connection with the Notice, a SAM.gov registration is required by the time the award in connection with the grant is made. We are in the process of completing our SAM.gov registration, but have encountered some delays due to technical difficulties. While we expect to be able to resolve these issues shortly, we may not have a completed registration before the application is submitted on or before September 7, 2023.

   Would you be able to confirm that the SAM.gov registration must be in place by the time the award is made (anticipated for late Fall 2023), but that it does not yet need to be in place by the time the application itself is made (by September 7, 2023)?

   Correct. Per section D.4 of the Notice of Funding Opportunity, an award will not be given to an applicant without a completed SAM.gov registration by the time it is awarded, not by the time of the application submission deadline.

8. we are an organization for whom it is particularly important that we maintain rights and access to the cultural materials that we have, and create

   we are wondering if you can please provide more information about how that works, if we were to be awarded

   specifically:

   • who owns the materials?
   • who decides how, when and where they are shared?
   • how would we navigate the Library of Congress materials, and resharing those on our own platforms?
   • i believe the webinar stated that the LOC does not publish the grantees materials – is that correct?

   The awardee will maintain the rights and access to the cultural materials that they already have rights and access to.

   For the access and use of awardee’s project deliverables, the Library’s preference is for projects to extend an open license for non-commercial public use to any materials and software created with these funds, but we encourage applicants to describe in detail any specific limitations they might predict for portions of their projects. Please refer to Section G.5 in the Notice of Funding Opportunity for more details regarding access and use of project deliverables.

   The materials on the Library’s digital collections website include rights and access statements for each item which will give guidance on how that material could be reshared on non-Library platforms. The CCDI team will also provide support for interpreting those rights and access statements during the award period.

   The Library will not host or publish awardee deliverables on its website or other publishing platforms. However, with permission and cooperation from the awardee, the CCDI team can help highlight and promote awardee projects through the Library’s blog and other social media platforms.

9. Working with tribal leaders of the XX Nation, and utilizing the digital collection of Library of Congress, the Museum of XX would propose creating an immersive exhibition that features the XX Nations history of the area, traditions, and current culture representation. Would this be a proposal that the Library of Congress would consider funding?

   According to the eligibility criteria outlined in Section C.1. of the Notice, applicants should be a library, archive, or museum that is a “not-for-profit U.S. Organization, unit of state or local government or federally recognized tribal community or tribe.” If an applicant meets this and other criteria detailed in Section C.1 of the Notice, they would be eligible for this opportunity.

   Section C.2. of the Notice further indicates that while an organization may sub-contract part of its work to other organizations, “the Library will only issue an award to a single organization that meets the eligibility requirements stated in the Notice.”

10. It will be possible to complete the application by the deadline, but an extra week would most likely result in a much improved application.

    There is no plan to extend the deadline for this funding opportunity at this time. If the opportunity is extended, the announcement will be made via the Of the People blog, CCDI website, and on grants.gov.

11. 1) How often will LOC do this series of grant competitions for LAMs and HE? Is it a reoccurring series of grants?

    This award is part of the Library’s Of the People: Widening the Path multiyear initiative, which has a period of performance date of January 2021 to December 2024. This is the final award cycle for the current initiative.

    2) Is our organization eligible for LOC – LAMS given its status as described above?

    Per section C.1 of the Notice of Funding Opportunity, eligible applicants must be Libraries, Archives, or Museums. It is unclear based on the information provided if your organization fits into one of these categories.

    3) Do applicants need to meet all listed eligibility criteria in section C of the Notice, or just one of them, to be eligible?

    Yes, applicants must meet all criteria listed in section C.1 in order to be eligible for this funding opportunity.

    4) Is it possible for applicants incl. our organization to partner directly with LOC on projects for LAMs and HE?

    This award does not offer the opportunity for formal partnerships with the Library or Library staff. The CCDI team can facilitate connections with relevant Library staff for support of your project where possible, however there are no formal guarantees for Library staff time, so your project proposal should not rely on Library staff time.

    5) Is it possible for applicants to coordinate projects that connect or cut across all multiple levels of LAMS and HE, or that even intersect with both programs?

    Per section C.2 of the Notice, the Library will only issue an award to a single organization that meets the eligibility requirements stated in the Notice. The organization can choose to sub-contract part of the work to other organizations. However, the organization to which the award is issued is responsible for all aspects of the award, as the Library will have no contractual relationship with any other organization or contractor.

    6) Is it possible f Applicants for this Notice should not submit proposals that include partnerships with international organizations. or national non-profit organizations to partner with internationally located LAMs, for projects that have local and national impact and implementation in DC and across US?

    Applicants for this Notice should not submit proposals that include partnerships with international organizations.

    7) Do applicants need to complete registration on the Systems for Award Management (SAM) ahead of (or potentially after) due dates for submitting applications to LOC on Thurs. 9-7-23?

    Per section D.4 of the Notice, successful applicants must be registered on SAM.gov before the award is made. The registration does not have to be completed by the time of application. However, an award will not be given to an applicant without a completed SAM.gov registration by the time it is awarded.

    7a) Can applicants submit applications and then complete registration on SAM afterward during next stages?

    Yes.

    7b) What is the due date for applicants to complete registration on SAM?

    See the response to question #7 above.

    8) For the budget section, can applicants include non-monetary in-kind costs and valuations for volunteer-ship hours, for projects, in past and present?

    Yes, however such costs should be separate and not included in the total amount requested from the Library. Please only include such costs and valuations as directly pertain to the project.

    8a) For the budget section, also kindly clarify how international collaborative and coalitions should share figures, incl. dollar denominations.

    Applicants for this Notice should not submit proposals that include partnerships with international organizations.

    9) Are there limits or limitations on the length of the appendix section for applications?

    No, there is no limit on the length of the Appendices.

    9a) What is the suggested length / range of the appendix section?

    There is no suggested length for the Appendices section of the proposal.

    9b) Are applicants able to share attachments for the appendix in different formats beyond writing, incl. photos, and other audio-visual content?

    Yes, however these attachments must all meet the file size requirements as stated in section D.6 of the Notice and they must be able to be remitted via email. Applicants must not submit files via a third-party website (such as OneDrive or Box.com).

    10) What are the processes and paperwork, instructions and forms, for people with disabilities and disadvantages to request reasonable accommodations for LOC LAMs and HE, incl. extra time?

    Please submit your request to [email protected] for additional assistance.

    11) Are the LOC applications for LAMs and HE available and accessible in audio and alternate languages beyond English text, in past and present?

    No. Current and former application materials for these funding opportunities are only available in written formats and in English. However, applicants may also listen to recorded webinars on the CCDI website for guidance on applying.

    12) Is it possible to partner with LOC, to create a series of applications that are linguistically more accessible for people and peers, in past and present?

    This award does not offer the opportunity for formal partnerships with the Library or Library staff. The CCDI team can facilitate connections with relevant Library staff for support of your project where possible, however there are no formal guarantees for Library staff time, so your project proposal should not rely on Library staff time.

CCDI is part of the Library’s Of the People: Widening the Path program with support from the Mellon Foundation. This four-year program provides financial and technical support to individuals, institutions and organizations to create imaginative projects using the Library’s digital collections and centering one or more of the following groups: Black, Indigenous, Hispanic/Latinx, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and other communities of color from any of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and its territories and commonwealths (Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands). Learn more about CCDI here.