Library Project Funding: A Guide to Planning and Writing Proposals

Citation

Calvert, P. (2009), "Library Project Funding: A Guide to Planning and Writing Proposals", The Electronic Library, Vol. 27 No. 3, pp. 559-560. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640470910967005

There are a few information managers who are very good at grantsmanship, but equally, there are many, probably the majority, who need some assistance in the preparation of funding applications. This is a thoroughly readable and practical book for all those working in libraries who want to make a funding application but feel like they do not know how.

This book is about funding applications being made for projects, that is, strategic developments that have definable start and finish dates, and run separately to day‐to‐day operations. Most funding agencies prefer to support projects rather than normal operations. Each chapter deals with a separate and essential stage of the process: defining the project idea, matching the project to funding opportunities, building partnerships, assembling the evidence to support your case, setting project objectives, project planning (including scheduling, budgeting, and risk assessment – all aspects the funding agencies will insist upon reviewing), and using project planning techniques and tools. It may seem that the book extends beyond the funding application into actual project management, but I have never yet succeeded with a funding application unless the detail was well documented in advance. The book concludes with chapters on evaluation and writing proposals. I think one more is needed, on how to report to funding agencies after they have started giving assistance. Sometimes those making applications do not realise how much work must go into keeping the funders happy.

In the chapter on assembling the evidence there are short but pertinent sections on environmental scanning, SWOT analysis, developing the business case, doing a cost‐benefit analysis, and writing the business plan. If these are matched with other recent publications, such as Business Cases for Info Pros: Here's How, Here's Why, by Ulla de Stricker (Information Today, 2008), the funding application ought to be well‐prepared with nothing missed out. The chapter on partnerships is a reminder that not all projects run smoothly, and sometimes an organisation has to apply for funding alongside an unwilling and unprepared partner.

There are several case studies or examples of possible projects in the book. Some of the examples are carried on through the book showing how each would be dealt with at a different stage of the process. It is good to see that some of the examples are for technology projects, such as “Belfast Exposed”, a project to digitise a community photographic archive. There are “checklists” added to the text throughout to add comprehension and the practical application of ideas.

One part of the book I found to be of little use was the section on funders of cultural heritage organisations in Europe and the UK. Fair enough, several readers of the book will find it useful, but not if you live outside the EU area. That is a minor matter, though. Overall, this is a very good book and I recommend it.