In 2015, CLiF received a grant from the Canaday Family Charitable Trust to study whether schools that had received a Year of the Book Grant (YOB) were able to sustain their momentum around literacy once the grant ended. CLiF contracted with Evergreen Evaluation and Consulting, Inc.(EEC) to conduct an external evaluation that addressed the following questions:
- How successful have past CLiF Year of the Book schools been in maintaining their momentum after the initial year is over?
- What are the greatest obstacles schools encounter when trying to maintain momentum?
- What lessons can be learned from past schools on ways to maintain sustainability?
- What would be the impact of CLiF offering a relatively small challenge grant and other forms of professional support in Year 2 to help schools maintain momentum?
Additional research findings are presented in EEC’s infographic.
Based on this research, CLiF announced a new sustainability grant for the year after completing Year of the Book. Schools that completed 2021-2022 Year of the Book grants are eligible for $1,000 of program support in 2022-2023. Please complete this form by October 28, 2022 to receive this additional support to sustain your Year of the Book momentum.
Application Process
The deadline to apply for a Year of the Book Grant is March 1, 2023 for the 2023-2024 school year. All applications must be submitted online no later than this date to be considered. A completed application will include:
- A completed Year of the Book application form
- A statement of support from the school principal
- A statement of support from the director or children’s librarian of the local public library
- A statement of support from the school librarian
- Statements of support from your school's literacy interventionist or other educators (optional, but strongly encouraged)
- Any additional materials that demonstrate the school’s need for supplementary literacy programming and/or the creative, enthusiastic ways that the school staff will help this initiative to succeed
- Final statement: CLiF may ask grant finalists to submit a one-page final statement summing up their commitment to Year of the Book programs
All grant applicants will be notified no later than April 1, 2023.
WHAT CLiF ASKS OF GRANT RECIPIENTS IN THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR 2022-2023
Schools that receive Year of the Book grants are asked to facilitate their grant’s success by completing the following activities before the end of the current school year:
- Local Coordinator: Schools must select a local coordinator. The coordinator will be CLiF’s onsite contact and it is crucial they have the capacity and energy for this project. They will work with the school and a local advisory committee to organize, schedule, and report on events and programs. The coordinator may be an administrator, educator, parent, or librarian. CLiF will pay the coordinator a stipend of $600 for the year as a small expression of our thanks for their efforts.
- Advisory Committee: CLiF asks the local coordinator to assemble a committee of teachers, staff, parents, administration, and/or community members to help with event planning and promotion and with maintaining momentum after the grant period.
- Informational Kickoff Meeting: In April or May 2023, CLiF will set up meetings (either in-person or virtually) at each sponsored school to meet the local coordinator, advisory committee, principal, and staff involved with the planning process. At this meeting, CLiF staff will work with your school to plan the fall kickoff event, brainstorm an initial calendar of events for the upcoming year, and answer any questions.