Project Requirements

Eligibility for the TSLAC-sponsored Family Place Libraries™ Project requires the following:

• Maintain a minimum of two qualified staff members.
• Require one staff member to dedicate at least 25% staff time to the development and maintenance of the space for a period of three years.
• Dedicate two qualified staff members to attend and complete the Family Place Libraries™ Training Institute.

Ineligibility:

• Sustaining an Existing Program - Existing project grant recipients that need staff trained in order to sustain their program, do not need to reapply. Instead please complete this Status Update to let us know.
• Additional Staff Training - Fully staffed, existing project grant recipients that want to have additional staff members trained in this methodology to more fully support the program need to contact the Youth Services Consultant for more information. 

Through their governing authority, accredited public libraries are eligible to apply for funds. Public library applicants must be accredited by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission for the fiscal year in which the grant contracts are issued.

Family Place requires two qualified staff members to attend training – one library administrator and one library staff member who dedicates at least 25 percent staff time to the development and maintenance of the space for a period of three years.

Prior to the training, participants will:

• Commit to attending the Family Place Libraries™ Training Institute.
• Complete registration, online training, or other requirements prior to attending the Institute.
• Notify TSLAC as soon as possible if a selected library staff member is unavailable to attend the training or becomes ineligible to attend and request approval for a different qualified library staff member to attend.
• Execute a contract with TSLAC to receive up to $7,400. This includes $6,000 in reimbursed funds to develop the Family Place Program and up to $700 per person in travel stipends. The contract must be executed by an official of the library’s governing authority authorized to enter into this agreement. The executed contract must be returned to TSLAC prior to the commencement of training.
• Make their own travel arrangements following their local travel procedures once stipend is received.

After the training, participants will:

• Complete the TSLAC Grant Management Series of training webinars on Communications, Contract Overview, and Financial Management & Reporting.
• Develop a Family Place Libraries™ Plan for the library.
• Purchase recommended items (up to $6000) by July 31.
• Report on expenditures in accordance with the contract requirements and timeline provided by TSLAC.
• Create and maintain a family friendly, interactive public space within the children’s area of the library in accordance with information provided during the training as well as local recommendations and guidance regarding safety and health.
• Develop a Parenting Collection in or adjacent to the library children’s area.
• Provide local in-house library staff orientation about Family Place Libraries™.

Within One (1) Year post training, participants will:

• Develop coalitions/partnerships with community agencies as described during the training.
• Plan, advertise, and implement Parent-Child Workshops as described during the training.

Within Three (3) Years post training, participants will:

• Plan, advertise, and implement Parent-Child Workshops as described during the training.
• Engage in support and consulting provided by staff from the Middle Country Public Library.
• Work with Middle Country Public Library to coordinate a site visit approximately 18 months after the training.
• Maintain documentation regarding implementation of their Family Place Plan and report annual statistics related to the Parent-Child Workshop, Early Childhood Programs, Space Usage, Collaborations, and Outreach Efforts, as required by the Middle Country Public Library.
• Complete all required state and Family Place Evaluations and Progress Reports about their Family Place Library.
• Replace and refresh the materials and resources in the space for young children as needed.
• Contact TSLAC to arrange the training of additional staff as needed to sustain the program in the event of a staff member leaving.

Visit the Family Place Libraries™ Project Resources page for the latest news and links to the application, dashboard, trainings, and more.

*NOTE: Watching the most recent grants training before beginning the application is strongly recommended.