Conservation and Preservation Grant

The Conservation and Preservation Grant is administered by the State Library of Ohio in partnership with the Ohio Preservation Council and the America 250-Ohio Commission. This funding opportunity is supported through federal Library Services and Technology Act funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services via its Grants to States program. The initiative reflects the State Library of Ohio’s strategic priorities as outlined in its Five-Year LSTA Plan and aligns with broader statewide efforts to commemorate and preserve Ohio’s cultural heritage in anticipation of the America 250 initiative. The primary purpose of the grant is to enable libraries to conserve a single item or preserve a small, discrete group of items within their collections. Eligible materials must be analog in nature and may include books, paper-based artifacts, objects, or artwork. The selected items should be unique and hold significant cultural or monetary value, while also representing elements of Ohio’s historical or artistic record. Applicants are expected to demonstrate how the proposed conservation or preservation activity aligns with their institutional mission and contributes to safeguarding cultural artifacts for future generations. Funding is available in amounts up to 4999 dollars per project. The grant is designed for focused, small-scale preservation efforts rather than large collection-wide initiatives. While specific restrictions are not exhaustively detailed, funds are intended to support professional conservation services and related preservation activities. Applicants are encouraged to engage qualified conservators and consider aspects such as treatment planning, documentation, contracts, and insurance as part of their project scope. Eligibility is limited to libraries, as the program is specifically designed to support library collections across Ohio. Participation in a required preparatory workshop is a mandatory condition for application submission. Prospective applicants must either attend the workshop scheduled for May 19, 2026, or submit an opt-out form confirming prior attendance at the May 2025 workshop. This requirement ensures that applicants are adequately prepared to develop competitive proposals and understand best practices in conservation and preservation. The application process opens on May 20, 2026, following the required workshop, and closes on August 23, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Applicants must complete all submission requirements within this window. The workshop itself provides critical guidance, including how to select appropriate materials, evaluate conservation needs, identify and work with conservators, and manage project logistics. Attendance is limited and requires prior registration, with each institution allowed to send up to two participants. Applications are expected to be evaluated based on alignment with program goals, the significance of the items proposed for preservation, and the feasibility of the conservation approach. While specific scoring criteria are not detailed, emphasis is placed on cultural relevance, project readiness, and adherence to best practices introduced during the workshop. Successful applicants will enter into a contract period running from November 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027, during which all project activities must be completed. This grant does not explicitly state recurrence, but it is part of an ongoing LSTA-funded program historically offered in cycles. The structured timeline, workshop requirement, and defined contract period indicate a formal competitive process. No direct contact information is provided within the source material, but applicants are directed to supporting resources and FAQs through the State Library of Ohio.

Select items that are culturally significant and aligned with institutional mission; demonstrate clear conservation plan and readiness; engage qualified conservators early