Opportunity Information: Apply for 20170913 HZ
The Humanities Open Book Program is a grant opportunity run by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in partnership with the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to bring high-quality, out-of-print humanities books back into circulation by converting them into free digital editions. The central goal is to unlock decades of important scholarship that is hard to find because most humanities titles sell modestly, go out of print quickly, and, for works published after 1923, typically remain under copyright and therefore are not widely available online. By funding digitization and ebook production, the program aims to give teachers, students, researchers, and general readers easy, no-cost access to these works in the places they already look for information: online platforms and common reading devices.
The program invites proposals from organizations that publish humanities books, including academic presses, scholarly societies, museums, and similar institutions. Applicants are expected to nominate a set of previously published humanities titles and provide brief descriptions explaining each book’s intellectual significance and why it is worth reviving for contemporary audiences. The number of books proposed can vary based on factors like length and subject matter, but the solicitation anticipates projects that might include anywhere from fewer than 50 to more than 100 titles. In practice, the emphasis is on assembling a coherent and meaningful collection of works rather than hitting a fixed numeric target.
Funding supports the process of digitizing selected titles and producing ebook versions that are openly available to the public at no charge. A key requirement is that the resulting ebooks be released under Creative Commons licenses, which is intended to reduce barriers to access and encourage broad educational and scholarly use consistent with the chosen license terms. The program also sets a clear technical standard for deliverables: final ebook files must be produced in EPUB version 3.0.1 (or later). This matters because EPUB 3 supports modern accessibility and usability expectations, including full-text search, reflowable text that adapts to different screen sizes, and resizable fonts for readers using computers, phones, tablets, and dedicated e-readers.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant program (CFDA 45.169) administered by NEH. Eligible applicants include a wide range of public and nonprofit entities, such as state, county, and local governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (other than higher education institutions). The listed maximum award amount is $200,000. The opportunity information provided also notes an original closing date of September 13, 2017, reflecting the specific cycle associated with the cited funding opportunity number (20170913 HZ).Apply for 20170913 HZ
- The National Endowment for the Humanities in the humanities sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Humanities Open Book Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.169.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-06-22.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-09-13. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Humanities Open Book Program FAQs
What is the Humanities Open Book Program?
The Humanities Open Book Program is a grant opportunity run by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in partnership with the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Its purpose is to bring high-quality, out-of-print humanities books back into circulation by converting them into free digital editions.
What problem is this program trying to solve?
The program aims to unlock decades of important humanities scholarship that is hard to find. Many humanities titles sell modestly, go out of print quickly, and (for works published after 1923) typically remain under copyright, which limits how widely they can be made available online.
What is the central goal of the program?
The central goal is to make important, out-of-print humanities books openly available as free digital editions so that teachers, students, researchers, and general readers can access them easily and at no cost.
How does the program increase access to these books?
The program funds digitization and ebook production so that revived titles can be read online and on common reading devices, making them available in the places people already look for information: online platforms and everyday devices.
What kinds of organizations are invited to apply?
The program invites proposals from organizations that publish humanities books, including academic presses, scholarly societies, museums, and similar institutions.
Who is eligible to apply under the listed eligibility categories?
Eligible applicants include a wide range of public and nonprofit entities, including state, county, and local governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (other than higher education institutions).
Is this a discretionary grant program, and what is the CFDA number?
Yes. The information provided describes this as a discretionary grant program administered by NEH, with CFDA number 45.169.
What types of books should be proposed?
Applicants are expected to nominate a set of previously published humanities titles, particularly high-quality works that are out of print and worth reviving for contemporary audiences.
What do applicants need to submit about the nominated titles?
Applicants are expected to provide brief descriptions explaining each book's intellectual significance and why it is worth reviving for contemporary audiences.
How many titles should a project include?
The number of books can vary based on factors such as length and subject matter. The solicitation anticipates projects that might include anywhere from fewer than 50 to more than 100 titles, with an emphasis on assembling a coherent and meaningful collection rather than meeting a fixed numeric target.
What activities does the funding support?
Funding supports digitizing selected titles and producing ebook versions that are openly available to the public at no charge.
Are the resulting ebooks required to be free to the public?
Yes. The program's goal is to produce digital editions that are openly available to the public at no charge.
What licensing requirement applies to the final ebooks?
The resulting ebooks must be released under Creative Commons licenses. This requirement is intended to reduce barriers to access and encourage broad educational and scholarly use consistent with the chosen license terms.
What technical format is required for the final ebook deliverables?
The program sets a technical standard requiring final ebook files to be produced in EPUB version 3.0.1 (or later).
Why does the program specify EPUB 3.0.1 (or later)?
EPUB 3 supports modern accessibility and usability expectations, including full-text search, reflowable text that adapts to different screen sizes, and resizable fonts for readers using computers, phones, tablets, and dedicated e-readers.
What is the maximum award amount listed for this opportunity?
The listed maximum award amount is $200,000.
Who administers this grant opportunity?
The program is administered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
Who partners with NEH on this program?
NEH runs the program in partnership with the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
What is the funding opportunity number mentioned in the provided information?
The cited funding opportunity number is 20170913 HZ.
What closing date is associated with the opportunity details provided?
The opportunity information provided notes an original closing date of September 13, 2017, reflecting the specific cycle associated with the cited funding opportunity number.
Does the program focus on hitting a specific number of digitized books?
No. While examples of project sizes are provided (from fewer than 50 to more than 100 titles), the emphasis is on creating a coherent and meaningful collection of works rather than hitting a fixed numeric target.
Who benefits from the digitized and republished ebooks?
The intended beneficiaries include teachers, students, researchers, and general readers, who gain easy, no-cost access to these humanities works through online platforms and common reading devices.
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