Libraries Improvement Fund (LIF) Round 3

This fund will enable library services across England to invest in a range of projects to upgrade buildings and technology so they are better placed to respond to the changing ways people are using them.  

The criteria for the Libraries Improvement Fund have been set by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Arts Council England. The grants are administered, awarded, and monitored by Arts Council England. Funding has been provided by DCMS.   

The aims of this fund is to: 

• Enable libraries to develop more flexible, more commercial spaces 
• Increase and improve digital access within communities 
• Connect libraries to their communities 
• Increase potential for transformation 
• Increase library use  
• Increase sustainability of libraries 

The outcomes we expect to see from recipients of this investment are:  

• More community groups using library space 
• Increased number of users accessing collections and services 
• Increased users accessing makerspace technology 
• More revenue taken in commercial income 
• Increased number of PCs/devices available to users 
• Fewer libraries running outdated operating systems  
• Extension of available hours 
• Increased number of co-located services 

First things first: never applied to us before?

Step 1: Read the guidance

Read the guidance in full to make sure you are eligible before you start your application.

We also held a webinar to answer your questions about how to apply to Round 3 of our Libraries Improvement Fund. You can re-watch the webinar here.

You can find the large print version and easy read below and the audio version here.

Step 2: Register on Grantium and familiarise yourself with it

Before you can start an application, you need to create a user account and applicant profile. Please note that new Grantium profiles can take up to ten working days to be approved.

Expression of interest for the fund will open on Grantium at 9am on 17 April 2023.

Please make sure that all the information in your Grantium profile is up to date before you apply.

Our Grantium guidance can help you get to grips with using the system.

Step 3: Any questions? Check our FAQs

Read the FAQs for the programme on the next sections of this page before you get in touch.

These pages are updated regularly with all our latest information and FAQs.

Step 4: Expression of interest

The online Expression of Interest form will open on Grantium at 9am on 17 April 2023. The deadline for submitting Expressions of Interest is 12pm (midday) on 19 June 2023.

Step 5: Making an application

If you are invited to submit a full application, the full online application form will open on Grantium at 9am on 19 July 2023. The deadline for submitting full applications is 12pm (midday) on 18 September 2023.

What counts as a building project?

We define a building project as any building or construction work that is required to comply with statutory approvals such as building or planning regulations. The main statutory approvals and consents are:

• building regulations
• outline planning permission
• full planning permission
• listed building consent
• change of use
• conservation area consent
• lawful development certificate

Will Building Regulations permissions have to be gained before the application goes in or can they be obtained later?

Applicants must obtain all approvals, planning consents, building regulation approvals, licences and any other necessary approvals and consents required by law to deliver the project. These do not need to be in place at the point of application, but they must be in place to enable the project to start within the timescale for this programme.

On applying, we expect you to understand what consent you require and factored this into your timetable and budget. Your application should tell us your progress with these or consultation with the relevant planning authorities or bodies. Applicants should take account of the timescales for obtaining these consents when planning their project and setting out the start date in their application. 

 

What should a cost plan include?

A cost plan is a specific document that differs from a budget. 

Cost plans should be prepared by a professional quantity surveyor and provide a detailed estimate of costs. It should: 

• be developed to at least RIBA Work Stage 3, or equivalent 
• be based on the drawings and specifications you have submitted with your application 
• include costings which have been incorporated into the income and expenditure budget you completed in the application form (ie the cost plan and budget should directly relate to each other )

The cost plan helps us understand the assumptions in the budget to answer the prompts in the guidance under financial viability:

• Is the budget detail appropriate to the type of project proposed? Does the budget demonstrate that: 
• expenditure is for the items listed under What activity can be supported 
• costs are based on appropriate professional advice (including VAT advice) or quotations 
• appropriate allowances have been made for contingency?
• appropriate allowances have been made for inflation?
• What evidence is there that contingency plans have been considered if the project goes over budget or the project cannot be delivered as originally planned?

Do we have to include a contingency? How much should we include?

We recommend including a contingency allowance in your project budget. The calculation of the contingency allowance should reflect: 

• the degree of certainty on the costs 
• the stage of design or development work completed 
• the timetable 
• the costed risks in relation to the type of project you are carrying out 
• any external socio-economic risks

We expect applications to include a fully costed risk register to help identify the adequacy of the contingency allowance.

How should we consider inflation and our LIF application

Inflation contingency should be separate from your general contingency, and should be represented separately in your application and supporting documents. Your inflation contingency needs to be realistic and forward-looking.

We cannot increase your grant if your project costs increase due to inflation. The inflation contingency in your cost plan should be based on a recognised measure, for example, ONS or BEIS. Your professional team should advise you on the amount to include

 

In December 2023 we updated section 1. Definitions and section 6.Your Obligations. 

Watch the recent webinar > 

Download the PowerPoint slides for the webinar below.