Overview: 

The Continuing Education Grant is made possible by funding from the Grants to States program administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). This grant aligns with KDLA's five-year strategic plan to enhance the knowledge and skills of public library and archival staff through professional development and training opportunities. Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives - Library Services and Technology Act Plan (2023-2027) 

Goal of the project: The Continuing Education Subgrant aims to provide essential funding to Kentucky's public libraries, enabling them to expand and enhance their staff’s learning opportunities.

Eligibility Requirements: Legally established public libraries in Kentucky that meet all the following requirements are eligible to apply for KDLA grants. KDLA’s Public Library Determination. Additionally, libraries must comply with the following:

1. Have a UEI number and SAM.gov (System for Award Management) registration. Information on how to check the status or obtain a UEI number may be found at SAM.gov | Duns - Sam UEI,

2. Have a library director who is properly certified by the Kentucky State Board for the Certification of Librarians.

3. Be in good standing with the Department for Local Government.

Award Information:  KDLA has allocated $50,000 for this grant. Final award amounts will be determined using a tiered system based on the number of full-time library staff as reported in the most recently published Annual Report of Kentucky Public Libraries. Award tiers are listed below.

• $5000 large libraries (40+ full-time staff)
• $4000 medium libraries (15 – 39 full-time staff)
• $3000 small libraries (6 – 14 full-time staff)
• $2000 very small libraries (1 – 5 full-time staff)

Disbursement of Funds: Grant funds will be issued to recipients upfront via check. 

Eligible Expenses covered by this grant include the following: Fees associated with conferences, webinars, classes, or training; Travel to and from conferences including (mileage, parking fees, plane tickets, and rental cars); Tuition costs and related school fees; Materials such as textbooks, e-books, CDs, software, etc.

Ineligible expenses include membership fees for professional organizations and meals.

Applications: An authorized individual may submit one application per library. Applicants should take into consideration the continuing education needs of all staff and prioritize those needs. 

Grant Timeline

All grant activities must take place between October 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026.  

• 6/2/2025 – 8/1/2025 - Applications are available  
• 8/4/2025 - 8/8/2025 - Review committee meets
• 8/18/2025 - Awards announced
• 10/1/2025 - Projects can begin
• 5/1/2026 - Progress reports due
• 8/31/2026 - Final reports due. All funds must be spent. 

Contact Information

· Project Monitor – Sarah Patterson – sarah.patterson@ky.gov 

· Grants Administrator – Dena Ratliff Warren – dratliffwarren@ky.gov

Please read the 2025-2026 Subgrant Guidelines before applying.  

PURPOSE: Kentucky state law requires that public libraries in Kentucky be administered and staffed by personnel appropriately certified by the Kentucky State Board for the Certification of Librarians. The Certification Board believes that library staff must increase their skills and knowledge through continuing education in order to keep abreast of developments in the information age. Under KRS 171.303 – 171.306, the Certification Board is authorized to encourage library science education for public library staff by offering library science scholarships for the successful completion of classes from accredited or approved programs.

DEFINITIONS: For the purpose of this scholarship, the following terms shall mean: Appropriate Certification – Certification issued by the Kentucky State Board for the Certification of Librarians for a position under the guidelines specified in 725 KAR 2:060.  Employed - Full or part-time employment in a library that includes administration, collection development, technical services, public services, or support for public service areas, and excludes secretarial, custodial, groundskeeping, security, food service, driver (other than bookmobile/outreach vehicle), and messenger duties. 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: In order to be eligible for the Library Science Tuition Scholarship, students must meet the following requirements: • Be employed by a Kentucky public library (full or part-time). • Hold at least a Temporary certificate at the time of application. • Study library science at an institute accredited by the American Library Association (ALA), the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, or the appropriate regional postsecondary education program.   • Take graduate level courses from an ALA-accredited program (if applicable). • Earn at least a C final grade for undergraduate students. • Earn at least a B final grade for graduate students. • Maintain appropriate certification from the Kentucky State Board for the Certification of Librarians. 

DETERMINATION OF AWARD: Scholarships are awarded in the amounts of $750 to a student attending a 4-year university and $350 to a student attending a 2-year college, not to exceed $7,000 per semester. A committee composed of KDLA staff and a member of the State Board for the Certification of Librarians or a public library director will review applications. Applicants are scored based on pre-determined rubric values. The award is based on the total of those values.  In awarding scholarships, the following receive special consideration: 

• Directors working toward initial certification 
• Library staff working toward initial certification

COMPLETION OF APPLICATION: Adhering to the following instructions ensures that the applying student and the sponsoring library have successfully completed the application process.  Submitting an incomplete application will result in immediate disqualification.  

• The student must complete and submit the application with a letter of recommendation from the supervisor, library director, or board president. Submit the application by given deadline date. 

KDLA is pleased to announce a three-day training that will provide information and resources to benefit Directors from libraries of all sizes.  Attendees will have the opportunity to network with other administrators and earn continuing education credit. If the Director cannot attend, an Assistant/Deputy Director or lead administrator can attend in the Director's place. 

Dates 

•  August 20 - 22, 2025

Location
Knicely Conference Center at Western Kentucky University

2355 Nashville Rd, Bowling Green, KY 42101

Costs Involved

• No charge for the training. 
• Upon request, a stipend is available that will cover hotel costs and mileage for one person from your library to attend the meeting. KDLA will provide $110.00 per hotel stay for up to two nights for a total of $220.00. Mileage will be calculated using the State Mileage Reimbursement rate of $0.43 per mile. The local library should be used as the starting location when figuring mileage to and from the Louisville Free Public Library meeting location. Note: Libraries receiving a stipend will fill out a report and submit receipts by September 30, 2025. 

Meals

• KDLA will provide lunch on Thursday, August 21.  Libraries are responsible for all other meals.

Registration

To register for this event, log in or create an account with Submittable below.  Make sure that the following email is added to your email contacts to ensure the account verification email does not go to your Spam box.  notifications@email.submittable.com. 

All communications about the director's meeting will occur through Submittable, so please bookmark the page and save your login information!