2023 Call for Applications and Award Criteria
African Studies Association (ASA) Funded Shipping or Purchase of Materials for Book Donation Projects

The African Studies Association (ASA) offers an annual grant program to assist book donation projects with shipping costs to send book donations to African libraries and schools. The grant is also offered to assist purchase of books or media (print or electronic) on the African continent for African libraries and schools. The Africana Librarians Council Book Donations Committee reads grant proposals and makes recommendations to ASA. ASA grants generally support small grants in amounts from $200 to $1000. Past awards are listed here. Those applying for partial funding of a project should clearly show how additional funding will be solicited. The grants are intended to encourage innovative projects to support African schools and libraries which incorporate essential elements, including:

1. Recipient participation
Book donation programs should reflect a partnership between institutions in Africa and the United States with a liaison contact from each institution. While large-scale donations of container-loads of books can be effective, the ASA is trying to fill a perceived gap by increasing the number of small to medium-sized projects that focus on specific, articulated needs, including books in electronic or other formats. Community-based, grassroots project involvement with benefit to broad, non-sectarian populations are encouraged.

2. High quality materials
Donation projects may include print or non-print books that donors obtain locally or abroad. All books must be in good condition, but not necessarily new, and relevant to the recipient’s needs. Books can be procured from libraries’ duplicates, personal libraries, books stores, students and publishers.

3. Attention to details of logistics The project plan should address logistical concerns, including a means of reviewing the books or media and assessing how they meet the recipient’s request. This should include: i. the procedures by which the recipient identifies desired books or media, ii. a copy of the book or media purchase receipt, and iii. the details on how the recipient will provide access to the books or media. In the case of donated print books, the plan should include a place to store the books as they are being collected, a means of reviewing the books for physical quality and relevance to the recipient’s request, materials and staff for packing, a means of shipping to Africa, and all necessary paperwork for customs and shipping. The ASA cannot offer any services in arranging shipping or other logistics. Our role is to supply funding to facilitate the donation.

Applications for Funding

1. Project description: Send a 1-3 page description covering:

• Who are the liaisons? Both in Africa or elsewhere (include contact information)?
• Tell us about the recipient and relationship to donor
• What print or electronic books will be donated (specific titles or subject areas)?
• How many print or electronic books will be donated?
• How will the print or electronic books be obtained?
• Why are these print or electronic books needed? Please share as much information as possible about the needs as articulated by the recipient?
• How will the donation recipient provide access to the electronic books?
• Why is your project an effective means of delivering these electronic books? If sending hardcopy books, what are your shipping and other logistical plans?
• What is the status of the project—-is it already underway, or just in the idea stage?
• What are plans for purchasing, shipping or other logistics (provide details, including costs and/ or purchase receipts)?
• Who will administer the project?

2. Budget

• What are total costs of the project?
• How much is the request to the ASA?
• How will ASA funds be used?
• For partial funding requests, how will other funds be solicited?

3. Applications Deadline & Timeline
Electronic Applications are due to the office of the ASA Secretariat by April 30. Please send electronic submissions AND any accompanying documents to the African Studies Association.
Applications for annual awards must be received by April 30th to be considered. Please submit online application form Online Application Form Please Email application in an attachment to: Alix Saba (ASA Executive Director) Email: [email protected]
or

Applications by Mail:

African Studies Association Rutgers University - Livingston Campus
54 Joyce Kilmer Avenue
Piscataway, NJ 08854-8045

Tel: 848-445-8173
Fax: 732-445-1366
Applications are reviewed between and May and July. Notifications should be made by August. Winners of the award are invited to receive the award at Annual ASA meeting in November or December.

A report on the project and a brief summary for ASA News are required at the project's completion. Photographs, websites, digitized information related to project progress is encouraged and may be used for development purposes by ASA or ALC.

Previous book donation award winners are listed on the website at the following URL: https://www.albany.edu/~dlafonde/Global/book_donation/ASAbookaward.htm.

For more information on Book Donation Programs: https://www.albany.edu/~dlafonde/Global/book_donation/bookdonation.htm
Book Donations Introduction and Tips: https://www.albany.edu/~dlafonde/Global/book_donation/bkdonsuccess.htm

Africana Librarians Council, Book Donation Committee page: https://www.albany.edu/~dlafonde/Global/book_donation/