Application Deadline: May 3, 2019
Date Posted: February 4, 2019
Contact the American Library Association (ALA) staff at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 5045, or publicprograms@ala.org.
The Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award for Exemplary Humanities Programming is an annual award recognizing a school library that has conducted an exemplary program or program series in the humanities during the current school year.
The award is sponsored by the American Library Association’s Cultural Communities Fund in cooperation with the American Association of School Librarians (AASL).
The intent of the award is to recognize humanities programs that expand student horizons beyond “basic education.” A humanities program can be focused in many subject areas, including but not limited to social studies, poetry, drama, art, music, language arts, foreign language and culture. Programs should focus on broadening perspectives and helping students understand the wider world and their place in it. The humanities program should be initiated and coordinated by the school librarian and exemplify the role of library programming in advancing the overall education goals for the school.
View a list of past Jaffarian Award winners.
View a free, pre-recorded webinar with the winner of the 2018 Jaffarian Award.
The Sara Jaffarian award consists of:
To be eligible, the program must have taken place during the current school year (2018-2019). U.S. school libraries, public or private, that serve children in any combination of grades K-8 are eligible, provided the library is staffed by a state-certified librarian. Libraries are encouraged to self-nominate.
ALA will accept applications for the Sara Jaffarian Award between February 4 and May 3, 2019.
Please review the Frequently Asked Questions before filling out an application.
Getting StartedTo begin the application process, go to http://apply.ala.org/jaffarian
To apply for the Sara Jaffarian award, you must complete the following steps:
Before you access the application, you must register to create an application account.
ORIf you have already registered when applying for another ALA Public Programs Office grant project, award or traveling exhibition you may log in using your e-mail address and password.
To complete Step 3, provide all the information that is requested on the Project Director Information screen.
To complete Step 4, provide all the information that is requested on the Program Details section.
After clicking the "SAVE" button, you will be able to return to the application at any time and log in using your e-mail address and password. This will allow you to edit, save, and return to your application as needed prior to the May 3, 2019 submission deadline.
Before you compose the narrative part of this application, we strongly recommend that you read these guidelines carefully. If you do not, your application is unlikely to be competitive.
Describe the program or program series, and how the school library and librarian were involved. If the program is ongoing, use the information on programming and activities from the previous school year (2018-2019) only.
Describe the involvement of others in the program. Letters of support (to be uploaded below) should emphasize the humanities program and the impact the program had on students and the school community, not the library program or the librarian.
Provide evidence of a curriculum component.
Describe how this program might be replicated.
Upload letters of support for your application. Limit four letters of support, including one from a district administrator and one from a community organization.
Provide up to five artifacts of the program. Artifacts must be from programs hosted in the 2018 – 2019 school year or a series of programs. Artifacts may include, but are not limited to:
Provide links to online videos (on YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) about your program.
An application for the Sara Jaffarian Award is an application for an award from the ALA. ALA is required by law to ask applicants to identify for each application a certifying official who is authorized to submit applications on behalf of the organization.
A certifying official can be an administrator or principal of your school, a school district official or another school official responsible for administering grants and awards at your school or district.
To complete this section, you must enter all of the information that is requested.
The Review and Edit page summarizes all the information that you have entered, including your project director information and your application narrative. From this page you can:
Once you have completed all parts of your application, you may submit it at any time by selecting the Submit button. All applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CST on May 3, 2019. Applications submitted after that time will be considered ineligible.
Note that once you have submitted your application, you can no longer alter it. The application will then be submitted for review.
You will receive an e-mail confirming submission of your application. At the confirmation page you will be able to print out a copy of your application. Print and keep this copy for your records.
Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
Applicants are encouraged to address questions about the selection guidelines, process and requirements to the ALA Public Programs Office at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 5045, or publicprograms@ala.org.
Review and Selection ProcessEach application will be assessed and selected by the Sara Jaffarian award committee. The committee consists of a:
Award notification
Applicants will be notified of their award status by e-mail on May 31, 2019.
If you have questions about the award, contact:
Public Programs OfficeSign In
To access the application system, sign in with your apply.ala.org profile.
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