ALA Building Library Capacity Grants

 Deadline: April 12, 2024 (by 11:59 p.m. Central Time) 

The second year of the American Library Association (ALA) Building Library Capacity Grants will provide grants to libraries serving incarcerated persons or assisting those re-entering society. Up to sixteen $10,000 grants will be given to successful applicants nationwide. The grants are intended to bolster library operations and services including literacy and other skill development, developing collections, staffing, expanding outreach, as well as maintaining and amplifying existing service strategies or adding new ones to make an impact.

The grant is open to 1) libraries already serving incarcerated persons or services to those re-entering society, or 2) those who would like to use the grant to begin serving incarcerated persons or starting services for those re-entering society. It is open for both libraries in carceral institutions and those outside carceral institutions. 

Grants are intended for library operations, including, but not limited to staff salary (direct or indirect,) materials, technology, and in-person or virtual services. Grants are to establish, re-establish, sustain, amplify services, or create newly needed services, to especially serve marginalized populations.

There will be a virtual grant information session on Tuesday, March 19 at 3 p.m. Central Time. The ALA Building Library Capacity Grants are supported through a three-year grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

For more information, including a PDF of the application, and a link to the online submission portal, ALA Apply, visit the ALA website: https://www.ala.org/aboutala/Building-Library-Capacity-Grants