It's that time of the year again. If your school library is located in a district in which 20 percent or more of families live below the poverty line, you're eligible for a grant from the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, the program provides funding to public school libraries to update collections, expand Internet connections, buy new technology, provide professional development for media specialists, and extend library hours. Eligible applicants include public school districts or charter schools and state-administered schools that are considered local school districts by their State Educational Agency. Individual schools are not allowed to apply. Approximately $18.5 million is available, and an estimated 80 grants will be awarded this year. Applicants can access the full application package on the program Web site under "Applicant Info." Applicants must use the U.S. Federal Government's Grants.gov applications system to apply. It's also very important to register early, since the registration process can take between seven and 10 days to complete. For those already registered, make sure your information is up-to-date. The LSL application package can be found online, at www.grants.gov, along with instructions for registering in the Grants.gov system and applying for grants. Applications should be submitted at least three days before the closing date of the competition, since it can take that long to process the application. The deadline is Friday, March 7. Contact Irene Harwarth, team leader for the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program at irene.harwarth@ed.gov with any questions.