AASL Grants and Awards for School Libraries

 Deadlines: February 1, 2025 

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) provides several awards and grants. The entire list is available at: https://www.ala.org/aasl/awards

ABC-CLIO Leadership Grant: up to $1,750 for AASL school library association leadership programs at the state, regional, or local levels

Innovative Reading Grant: $2,500 to support a unique and innovative program for K-9th learners which motivates and encourages reading, especially with struggling readers

Roald Dahl’s Miss Honey Social Justice Award: $2,000 to a librarian, up to $1,000 travel to attend the Awards Ceremony, and a $5,000 book donation by Penguin Random House for collaboration and partnerships between school librarians and teachers in teaching social justice

Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries: School Library Grants

Deadline: December 6, 2024

The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries provides funds to the neediest schools to extend, update, and diversify the book and print collections in their libraries with the goal of encouraging students to develop a love of reading and learning.

The grant may be used to purchase school library books, e-books, and magazines. The funds can not be used for shelving, furniture, technology, equipment, staffing, or classroom book sets. Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• A certified librarian or other paid professional must be assigned as responsible for the collection, care, and use of the materials housed in the school library.
• Public school applicants must be Title 1 eligible. Neighborhood schools, charter schools, magnet schools, etc. may apply if Title 1 eligible.
• Private and parochial schools may apply if at least 50% of their student population qualifies for financial aid.
• The school must have a library or designated space on campus where books are accessible to all students to check out.

For more information and to apply, visit the website: https://www.bushcenter.org/lbf-application-details.

Penguin Random House & United for Libraries Grants to Rural and Small Libraries

Application Dates: February 3-17, 2025

Penguin Random House, in partnership with United for Libraries, is offering grants to support rural and small U.S. libraries. Grants of $500 and $1,000 will be awarded, from a total grant pool of $25,000. In-kind book donation grants of $500 will also be awarded to 20 libraries to purchase Penguin Random House titles. Along with the grants, recipients will receive free eLearning from United for Libraries, including monthly webinars on leveraging grant funds to support libraries.

Grant funds will support specific projects designated by Friends of the Library groups. To be eligible for a cash or in-kind grant, a library Friends group must support a rural/small U.S. library with a legal service area population of 25,000 or less, in any area 5+ miles outside of a Census defined urban area (as defined by IMLS). Libraries without an active Friends group can also apply if they’re in the process of starting one. 

The new program comes at a critical time for the library community as the freedom to read faces increased attacks in the form of book bans and challenges. Grants will be administered by ALA's United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, whose mission is to support those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for all types of libraries. Grant funding is provided by Penguin Random House.

Free sessions will help libraries prepare for the application process and strengthen their grant-writing skills. For more details and to register, visit this United for Libraries form.

• Grant Information Sessions: Dec. 18, 2024, 12-12:30 p.m. ET and Feb. 4, 2025, 7-7:30 p.m. ET
• Starting a Friends Group: Dec. 3, 2024, 7:00-8:00 p.m. ET
• Grant Writing Basics: Jan. 15, 2025, 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET

For more information on these grants visit the website: https://www.ala.org/united/grants_awards/friends/united-libraries-and-penguin-random-house-grant-rural-and-small-libraries

Mathical Book Prize - Title I School Library Collection Development Grants

Deadline: November 7, 2024

Presented by the Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (SLMath) in partnership with School Library Journal (SLJ), the 2024-25 Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards program will provide $850 to up to 36 Title I U.S. schools to purchase Mathical Book Prize titles for their schools.

The Mathical Book Prize recognizes outstanding youth trade fiction and nonfiction that inspire a love of math. Prize-winning novels, biographies, chapter books and picture books are selected yearly by a committee of math teachers, reading teachers, mathematicians, librarians, early childhood experts, and others.

To be eligible, schools must document their Title I status and employ a full- or part-time librarian who meets state requirements for school library media certification and is currently employed as a media specialist, teacher librarian, or equivalent position.

Priority will be given to schools whose library staff demonstrate the greatest promise in using funds to advance the goals of their school library, and who are enthusiastic about encouraging students to explore a love of mathematics in their everyday lives. The diversity of geographic location and grade level of students served will be considered in determining the winners. The prize is made possible with support from the Firedoll Foundation, the Guru Krupa Foundation, and the Luce-Fahey Family Foundation.

For more information and the online application form, visit the website: https://www.slj.com/page/mathical-book-prize-awards.

Widening the Arc of Trans History: Archival Research Grant for Early Career Scholars

Deadline: January 12, 2025

Widening the Arc of Trans History: Archival Research for Public Storytelling invites early career scholars in trans studies to uncover and share lesser-explored trans histories. This three-year project, funded by the Mellon Foundation, addresses the challenge of accessing and deeply engaging with trans archival materials, offering support to scholars interested in enriching and diversifying the field. This project is generously funded by the Mellon Foundation for Higher Learning and supported by the Penn State College of the Liberal Arts.

Who Can Apply: Early career U.S.-based humanities scholars who have completed their Ph.D. within the last five years.
Program Structure: An 8-10 person cohort will participate in a three-year program including fully funded summer research residencies at key trans archives, including the University of Victoria, and virtual workshops throughout the year covering topics such as: archival methods, trans archives, publishing, public storytelling, and non-fiction craft. In the third year, scholars will gather at Penn State-University Park for a symposium to share their work publicly.
Support Provided: All travel expenses are covered, along with an annual $1,000 stipend, $5000 towards a development editor for their first book, and ongoing support for writing and revision.
Learn More: You can learn more about the project and apply using this google form: https://bit.ly/TransHistoryApplication.

2025-26 NEA Big Read Grants

Deadlines: Submit your Intent to Apply by January 23, 2025; final applications due by January 30, 2025

The National Endowment for the Arts Big Read is a program that awards grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to support community reading programs designed around a single NEA Big Read book.

An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with Arts Midwest, the NEA Big Read broadens our understanding of ourselves and our neighbors through the power of a shared reading experience. The goal of this program is to inspire meaningful conversations, celebrate local creativity, elevate a wide variety of voices and perspectives, and build stronger connections in each community.

In addition to funding for purchasing the books themselves, each grant recipient is provided with resources to help them succeed. That includes outreach materials to gather people from all walks of life and training on how to work with local partners, how to develop public relations strategies, and how to lead meaningful book discussions.

NEA Big Read programs vary and can be as short as a week or as long as several months, held between September 2025 and June 2026. Programming for the 2025-2026 grant cycle will center around the theme OUR NATURE: How Our Physical Environment Can Lead Us to Seek Hope, Courage, and Connection. The 22 books that applicants can choose from all explore our relationship with the physical environment. Applicants will facilitate book discussions, writing workshops, and creative programming activities that explore this theme and celebrate the unique aspects of their communities.

U.S. libraries, nonprofit arts organizations, universities, community service organizations, museums, school districts, and tribal governments are all encouraged to apply. Applicants will need to have a UEI number on file by April 2025. Apply for a free UEI at sam.gov.

For more information about the NEA Big Read application visit the page: https://artsmidwest.org/get-support/nea-big-read.

ALA Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities

Deadline: December 11, 2024

The American Library Association (ALA) invites applications from small and rural libraries for more than $7 million in Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Accessible Small and Rural Communities grants to increase the accessibility of facilities, services, and programs to better serve people with disabilities. Up to 300 libraries will be selected for the third round of grants and receive $10,000 or $20,000 to support a community engagement project; virtual training; online resources; and technical and project support from the ALA Public Programs Office throughout the grant term.

Selected libraries will conduct community input-gathering sessions to ensure their work aligns with local community needs. Libraries will be required to identify the primary audience they hope to reach (e.g., older adults with mobility disabilities, children with autism, Deaf community members) and facilitate a community conversation with the impacted populations to guide the improvement of the library’s services. Grantees will then use the funds to create services or improve their facilities based on the needs identified by their audience.

The opportunity is open to libraries serving small and rural communities in the U.S. and U.S. territories. To be eligible, a library must be located in an area with a population of 25,000 or less, and be at least five miles from an urbanized area, in keeping with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) definitions of small and rural libraries.

Since 2014, ALA has distributed LTC funding to foster community engagement skills among library workers and support need-driven projects. The initiative is offered in partnership with the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL). It is supported by a private donor.

Interested applicants can register for a pre-application webinar to be held Oct. 10, 2024 at 12:00 pm CST. Applicants are accepted through the grants management system, ALA Apply.

For more information, including a valuable FAQ, visit: https://www.ala.org/tools/librariestransform/libraries-transforming-communities/access/guidelines.

ACRL 2025 Conference Scholarships

Deadline: October 11, 2024

The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) is offering $90,000 in scholarships to support in-person and virtual attendance at ACRL 2025. Scholarships aim to help academic and research library professionals expand their skills and stay current with industry developments.

Each scholarship includes a conference registration waiver ($259–$549 value) and a travel stipend (typically $600). Scholarships are available to early-career, mid-career, and career librarians, library school students, recent graduates, and support staff.

Priority is given to applicants from diverse cultural or ethnic backgrounds, those serving underrepresented groups, employed at community, junior, or technical colleges, international applicants, individuals demonstrating financial need, those living with visible or non-visible disabilities, and those contributing to a diverse representation at the conference. Applications require a biography, a description of how attendance at the ACRL conference will support current job responsibilities and/or long-term goals, and a commitment statement on equity and inclusion.

For more details and a link to the application, visit the website.

CLIR Grants for Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives

Deadline: October 30, 2024, for initial applications

Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives: Amplifying Unheard Voices, a program of the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR), supports the digitization of rare and unique materials held by collecting organizations in the U.S. and Canada. For the 2024-2025 cycle, up to $4,000,000 in grants will be awarded in the amounts of $50,000 to $300,000 USD for projects digitizing materials in a variety of formats that enrich the public’s understanding of the histories of underrepresented communities, particularly those of people of color and other communities and populations whose work, experiences, and perspectives have been insufficiently recognized or unattended. These often “hidden” histories include but are not limited to, those of Black, Indigenous, Latine, and other People of Color; Women; Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Non-binary, and other Genderqueer people and communities; Immigrants; Displaced populations; Blind, Deaf, and Disabled people and communities; and Colonized, Disenfranchised, Enslaved, and Incarcerated people. The program is generously supported by the Mellon Foundation. Eligible applicants include nonprofit, academic, independent, and community-based organizations as well as government entities in the U.S. and Canada that collect, preserve, and share rare and unique materials with the general public.

For more information, including guidelines, sample documents, and FAQs, visit the website: https://www.clir.org/hiddencollections/apply-for-an-award.

PLA Digital Navigator Workshop Incentive Program

 Deadline: October 18, 2024

The 2024–2025 PLA Digital Navigator Workshop Incentive is a pilot program supported by AT&T. This initiative is designed to support libraries that already have Digital Navigators in place, providing funding to enhance their efforts in teaching digital literacy skills using PLA's DigitalLearn course modules that are freely available to anyone.

Digital Navigators are individuals who help community members navigate the digital world, providing guidance and support for various digital literacy topics. This program aims to equip these Navigators with additional resources to better serve their communities.

Funding Details: 

• 35 libraries will receive $4,000 each to support their Digital Navigators and reach at least 15 learners.
• Grant funds can be used to compensate Digital Navigators, advertise the program, purchase training aids, supplies, technology, and giveaways, print and translate materials, provide snacks, transportation, childcare, and more.

Key Requirements:

• Conduct training by May 30, 2025, engaging a minimum of 15 learners, using DigitalLearn training content such as: Internet Basics, Video Conferencing Basics, Cybersecurity Basics, Email Basics, Computer Basics (Windows 10), Computer Basics (macOS 11), Mobile Device Basics (Android), Mobile Device Basics (iOS).
• Submit the necessary forms by November 15, 2024, and watch all onboarding videos and webinars.
• Collect learner surveys and report monthly learner numbers. Participate in evaluation interviews and surveys.
• Develop a plan to recruit learners, particularly from underserved groups, and announce the award through various communication channels.
• Open to public libraries in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C., that already have a Digital Navigator.

For more information, visit the PLA Digital Navigator Workshop Incentive website. Apply through ALA Apply, the American Library Association's Grant Management System.

2024–2025 PLA Digital Literacy Workshop Incentive Program

Deadline: October 18, 2024

Are you a public library looking to enhance your community's digital literacy skills? The Public Library Association (PLA), in partnership with AT&T, offers funding and resources through the Digital Literacy Workshop Incentive program to support libraries in teaching essential digital skills using PLA's DigitalLearn course modules and training materials that are freely available to anyone. Since 2022, PLA and AT&T have empowered nearly 400 public libraries to conduct over 3,800 workshops, reaching more than 19,000 learners. With support from AT&T's Connected Learning initiative, PLA has expanded and updated its DigitalLearn courses, now offering materials in both English and Spanish.

Funding Details:

• 50 large libraries will receive $10,000 each to teach a minimum of 75 learners.
• 50 small libraries (service population of less than 100,000) will receive $5,000 each to teach a minimum of 30 learners.
• Eligible Expenses: Grant funds can be used for hiring trainers, purchasing training aids, giveaways, and technology, printing materials, advertising workshops, translating materials, providing snacks, transportation, and childcare, renting space, and more.

Key Requirements include:

• Conduct Workshops by May 30, 2025 using DigitalLearn training content such as: Internet Basics, Video Conferencing Basics, Cybersecurity Basics, Email Basics, Computer Basics (Windows 10), Computer Basics (macOS 11), Mobile Device Basics (Android), Mobile Device Basics (iOS).
• Collect post-workshop learner surveys, report monthly participant numbers, and complete a final evaluation survey by June 16, 2025.
• Develop a plan to recruit learners, especially from underserved groups, and announce the award through various communication channels.
• Open to public libraries in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C. Libraries must apply as systems, not individual branches.

For more information, visit the PLA Digital Literacy Workshop Incentive website. Apply through ALA Apply, the American Library Association's Grant Management System.

Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program

Deadline: September 23, 2024 (October 22, 2024 for U.S. Territories)
Opens: August 14, 2024

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will accept applications for the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program. This grant, part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, aims to fund initiatives that ensure communities have the access and skills to fully participate in the digital world, regardless of their background or circumstances.

NTIA anticipates issuing between 150 and 200 grants within a range of $5-$12 million per award. Eligible organizations include state agencies, such as agencies responsible for administering or supervising adult education and literacy activities; native entities; nonprofits; community anchor institutions; local educational agencies; and workforce development programs.

Proposed programs, projects, and activities will support digital inclusion activities, broadband adoption, training programs, workforce development, and public access computing centers, and will help to:

• Achieve digital equity and promote digital inclusion.
• Spur greater adoption and meaningful use of broadband among Covered Populations to provide educational and employment opportunities.
• Implement training programs for Covered Populations covering basic, advanced, and applied skills.
• Implement workforce development programs.
• Provide equipment, instrumentation, networking capability, and digital network technology for broadband services to Covered Populations at low or no cost.
• Construct, upgrade, expand, or operate new or existing public access computing centers for Covered Populations through community anchor institutions.
• Undertake any other project or activity consistent with the purposes of the Program.

Grantees may also use up to 10 percent of the grant amount to measure and evaluate grant activities.

Submit complete applications via the NTIA Grants Portal. For more details, including a FAQ and application packet, visit the BroadbandUSA website.

Books For Change USA Classroom Library - Mini Grants

 Deadline: July 31, 2024

Books for Change USA is a nonprofit dedicated to providing access to quality books both locally and globally, especially in high-poverty and low-literacy communities. They aim to create and empower a global community of readers, one book and one child at a time.

The purpose of these grants is to increase the diversity and quality of books in elementary classroom libraries. Books For Change USA believes that classroom libraries should offer a wide range of books that appeal to and support the needs of students with different interests and abilities, reflecting diverse cultures, perspectives, and social identities to open up opportunities for student choice and enjoyment of reading authentic texts. Grant Details:

• Eligibility: K-5 teachers in their first through third year of teaching
• Grant Amount: $500 for purchasing books and materials for classroom libraries will be awarded on August 14, 2024.
• Requirements: A brief report and reflection on the impact of the funds

For more information and the brief online grant application form, visit: https://www.booksforchangeusa.org/funding.

NEA Our Town Grants

 Deadline: August 1, 2024 (part 1) and August 15 (part 2)

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Our Town grants program supports creative placemaking projects that integrate arts, culture, and design into local community efforts. Projects should engage local stakeholders, address unique community needs, promote equity, enhance artistic experiences, and support sustainable systemic change. Grants range from $25,000 to $150,000, with a matching nonfederal cost share.

Applicants must have at least three years of arts programming experience and must partner with a local governmental or quasi-governmental entity. If neither partner is an arts or cultural entity, an additional arts, design, or cultural partner is required. Eligible applicants include:

• Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations;
• Nonprofit institutions of higher education;
• Units of local government; or
• Federally recognized tribal communities or tribes.

Projects should focus on community-identified or supported goals and may include collaborative strategies such as: 

• Planning activities that incorporate artists and culture bearers as key project leads, such as artist/designer-facilitated community planning, cultural planning, cultural district planning, creative asset mapping, or public art planning
• Designing cultural spaces, such as artist spaces, cultural facilities, or public spaces
• Supporting the creative economy through creative business development or professional artist/designer development
• Creating opportunities for community building and arts engagement through artist residencies, arts festivals, community co-creation of art, performances, and public art

The application process involves multiple steps, including registering with Login.gov, SAM.gov, and Grants.gov. For detailed information and application instructions, visit the NEA's Our Town grant page. 

Lois Lenski Covey Foundation Bookmobile Book Grants

 Deadline: February 15-September 1, 2024

Lois Lenski, children’s book author and 1946 Newbery medalist for Strawberry Girl, had a life-long concern that all children have access to good books. Toward that end, the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation provides grants to organizations that operate a lending bookmobile that travels into neighborhoods populated by underserved youth. The grants are for purchasing books published for preschoolers through grade 8. Bookmobiles operated by charitable 501(c)(3) and other non-taxable agencies, including public libraries or schools, are eligible. 

The Foundation awards grants to organizations that serve economically or socially at-risk children, have limited book budgets, and demonstrate real need. Grants range from $500 to $3000 and are specifically for purchasing books to be checked out, and cannot be used for administrative or operational purposes.

For more details and a downloadable application form, visit the website: https://www.loislenskicovey.org/bookmobile-grants.  

Jerry Kline Community Impact Prize for Public Libraries

Deadline: July 31, 2024

The Jerry Kline Community Impact Prize, developed in partnership between the Gerald M. Kline Family Foundation and Library Journal, was created in 2019 to recognize the public library as a vital community asset. "When libraries, civic entities, organizations, and the people they serve become close partners, their communities thrive."

One winning library will receive $250,000 in unfettered grant monies from the Gerald M. Kline Family Foundation and be profiled in the November issue of Library Journal and online. Honorable mentions may also be named. All U.S. Public Libraries are eligible for the prize.

The winning library will be identified based on the degree of its impact on the community in the following key areas:

• Engagement with local government to support the service area's defined goals
• Engagement with the community to develop library services
• Community recognition
• Inclusion to meet the needs of underserved populations as well as promoting social cohesion and connection across differences
• Leadership development to perpetuate the library's organizational strength and dynamism
• Environmental sustainability and leadership in sustainable thinking
• Inventiveness as exemplified by one of the library's services which is particularly original, both strategically and tactically
• Any controversies that have arisen within the library, and how the library has handled them going forward

Please visit the website for the grant guidelines and a link to the application form. 

ARSL Grant Webinar - Winning Grants: Strategies for Rural and Small Library Success

The Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) is hosting an upcoming webinar focused on the practical strategies needed to succeed in the world of grants. Led by Stephanie Gerding, MLIS, library grant expert and author of the newly revised "Winning Grants: a How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians," this session promises to be engaging, informative, and brimming with actionable insights to make the grant process not only manageable but also enjoyable. What to expect:

• Demystifying the Grant Process: Learn an easy-to-follow grant process that will simplify and streamline your approach.
  
• Crafting Winning Proposals: Gain valuable insights into what funders are looking for in a successful grant proposal and how to tailor your submissions for maximum impact.
• Rural Library Grant Success Stories: Hear firsthand accounts of successful grant strategies from libraries just like yours.
• Practical Advice and Resources: Walk away with practical advice, 10 Tips for Success, easy grants for beginners, partnership ideas, and a curated list of valuable resources to support your grant journey.

Date and Time: Thursday, May 16, 2024, 11:00 am PT / 12:00 pm MT / 1:00 pm CT / 2:00 pm ET
Investment: $15 for ARSL Members; $25 for non-ARSL Members

Let's make winning grants for your library a reality! I look forward to seeing you there!

To register and learn more, visit  ARSL's website.

NEH Cultural and Community Resilience Program Grants

 Application Deadline: DEADLINE EXTENDED! May 28, 2024

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Cultural and Community Resilience program supports community-based efforts addressing the impacts of climate change and COVID-19 by preserving cultural resources and enhancing cultural resilience through identifying, documenting, and/or collecting cultural heritage and community experiences. It prioritizes projects from disadvantaged U.S. communities. Projects can focus on one of two categories: community collecting initiatives or oral history programs, with an emphasis on addressing the effects of climate change or the pandemic. The program welcomes both modest projects and larger ones and supports projects at any stage, from preliminary planning to final steps and implementation. Example project activities include collaborative planning, documentation of cultural resources, recording oral histories, preserving traditional knowledge, and establishing shared resources and protocols for rapid response collecting. NEH encourages inclusive methodologies and the use of open-access online resources. 

NEH will award successful applicants up to $150,000 and anticipates awarding approximately $2,500,000 among an estimated fifteen to twenty recipients. NEH does not require cost sharing in this program. Proposals should budget for two team members to attend a meeting in Washington, D.C., in May 2026. Applicant organizations must be established in the U.S. or its jurisdictions as one of the following: a nonprofit organization recognized as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an accredited institution of higher education (public or nonprofit), a state or local government or one of their agencies, or a federally recognized Native American Tribal government.

You must apply using Grants.gov or a Grants.gov system-to-system solution. Note that Grants.gov will be unavailable May 18-21, 2024, due to systems maintenance. Ensure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations and passwords are current as it may take weeks to register. 

For more information, a webinar recording with updated information about the program, and the application, visit the NEH webpage: neh.gov/program/cultural-and-community-resilience.

NEH Public Impact Projects at Smaller Organizations Grants

Deadline: June 12, 2024 (optional draft due May 8)

The NEH's Public Impact Projects grants aim to assist small and mid-sized cultural organizations in expanding the scope, reach, and excellence of their public programs. These grants support activities such as enriching interpretive strategies, strengthening interpretive skill sets, and enhancing community engagement with public-facing programs. The program encourages organizations to consider their interpretive humanities needs or programmatic goals and how meeting these needs would benefit public audiences. Projects may involve evaluating current programming, identifying new story opportunities, implementing new programs, or providing professional development opportunities for staff and volunteers. The maximum award amount is $25,000.

The NEH encourages proposals from first-time applicants and provides tips for successful submission, including starting early, submitting distinct proposals, observing requirements, and seeking assistance from Program Officers. The recording from a live webinar and Q&A session on April 25, is available for reference.

For more information, including registration details and past awards, visit the webpage: www.neh.gov/program/public-impact-projects-smaller-organizations.

State Intellectual Freedom Helpline Grants

Deadline: July 14, 2024.

The Intellectual Freedom Helpline program, administered by The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (ALA OIF), supports librarians and educators in addressing censorship attempts. More information on ALA's intellectual freedom efforts can be found at: ala.org/oif.

State library associations, state school library associations, ALA chapters, and state library agencies in the U.S. are eligible to apply for grants of $10,000 to establish or enhance Intellectual Freedom Helpline (IFH) services. The proposed initiative could be led by a state or school library association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee or similar working group. A project leader from each selected organization will attend a training in Chicago in October 2024 and present their work at a state or regional conference. Grant funds can be used to defray any affiliated expenses. 

Over the next two years, ten pilot program sites will support a confidential reporting system that will help connect those experiencing censorship attempts with professional support, in-state peers, and referral to ALA OIF as appropriate. The initiative will document reported censorship attempts; develop resources and establish best practices to operate an IFH; and develop the expertise and confidence of both those providing and receiving support. 

The Intellectual Freedom Helpline grants are made possible through the generous support of the Acton Family Giving and critical program support is provided by the Mellon Foundation.

For more information, visit the grant guidelines and access the grant application.

Dollar General Youth Literacy Grants

 Deadline: April 25, 2024

All types of schools, public libraries, and nonprofit 501c3 organizations that help K-12th grade students who are below grade level or having trouble reading are eligible to apply. The applicant organization must be located within 15 miles of a Dollar General store. The maximum grant amount is $4,000. Grants will be announced on August 22, 2024. Grant funding is provided to assist in the following areas:

• Implementing new or expanding existing literacy programs
• professional development to support literacy 
• Purchasing books, instructional materials, technology, or software for literacy initiatives 

For more information and to apply, visit the Dollar General Literacy Foundation 2023 Youth Literacy Grant website. A valuable FAQ is available. There is a new grant management system for the 2024 grant application cycle.

Believe in Reading Grants

 Deadline: Ongoing (Grant applications are considered as they are received)

Believe in Reading is funded by The Steve and Loree Potash Family Foundation. "Illiteracy has become such a serious problem in our country that 44 million adults are now unable to read a simple story to their children." Believe in Reading funds excellent programs that teach, improve, or encourage reading by people of all ages from around the world.

• Believe in Reading’s grants are renewable for up to three years, but a first-year award does not guarantee any subsequent awards. The maximum grant amount is $10,000, however the vast majority of grants are for $3,000 or less.
• Believe in Reading awards grants to existing and provably successful literacy programs. Programs should have been established for a minimum of 2 years.
• Believe in Reading awards grants only to organizations that have been designated as having tax-exempt status according to the IRS Code Section 501(c)(3), or its equivalent for educational institutions, including public libraries.
• Believe in Reading will consider funding programs that serve any age or aspect of supporting reading and literacy, including adult literacy or English as a second language projects.
• Believe in Reading targets successful literacy programs which serve populations that show out of the ordinary needs, such as geographic areas with low reading scores and high poverty levels.

For the grant guidelines and application, visit the website. 

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

AARP Community Challenge Grants

 Deadline: March 6, 2024, 5 p.m. (ET) / 2 p.m. (PT)

The AARP Community Challenge grants fund quick-action projects to help communities become more livable for people of all ages. In 2024, there are three different grant opportunities (see below). Organizations may apply for more than one grant opportunity and may submit multiple applications. Eligible applicants include 501(C)(3), 501(C)(4), and 501(c)(6) nonprofits, and government entities. Other types of organizations will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

AARP Community Challenge grants may be used to support three project types:

• Permanent physical improvements in the community
• Temporary demonstrations that lead to long-term change
• New, innovative programming pilots or services

1. Flagship Grants range from several hundred dollars for smaller, short-term activities to tens of thousands of dollars for larger projects, with an average amount of $11,900. Project ideas include:

• Create vibrant public places that improve open spaces, parks and access to other amenities
• Deliver a range of transportation and mobility options that increase connectivity, walkability, bikeability, and access to public and private transit
• Support housing options that increase the availability of accessible and affordable choices
• Increase digital connections by expanding high-speed internet and enhancing the digital literacy skills of residents
• Support community resilience through investments that improve disaster management, preparedness and mitigation for residents
• Improve community health and economic empowerment in support of financial well-being and improved health outcomes

2. Capacity-Building Microgrants of $2,500 may be combined with additional AARP resources, such as webinars, publications, cohort learning opportunities, and/or up to two hours of one-on-one coaching with leading national organizations to benefit residents (especially those age 50 or older) in the following categories:

• NEW! Bike Audits: Implement bike audit assessments to enhance safety and bikeability in communities
• NEW! HomeFit® Modifications: Implement education, simple home modifications and/or easy home safety and accessibility solutions to make "lifelong homes"
• Walk Audits: Implement walk audit assessments to enhance safety and walkability in communities

3. Demonstration Grants support efforts that encourage the replication of promising local efforts that benefit residents (especially those age 50 and older) by:

• NEW! Enhancing digital connectivity to prepare and respond to disasters for residents
• NEW! Facilitating equitable engagement to reconnect communities that have been divided by infrastructure 
• Implementing housing choice design competitions that increase community understanding of the benefits of a variety of housing options 

For more information and to apply, visit the website: https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/community-challenge/info-2024/2024-challenge.html

The Lisa Libraries Book Donation Program

Deadline: Ongoing

The Lisa Libraries donates new children's books and helps establish small libraries for organizations that work with kids in low-income or underserved areas. Founded in 1990, the Lisa Libraries was started by author Ann M. Martin and friends to honor and memorialize children's book editor Lisa Novak. Some of the libraries established have been at day-care centers, prison visiting areas for children of incarcerated parents, homeless shelters, battered women’s shelters, and after-school programs. The Lisa Libraries supplements under-filled shelves as well as provides books to many children who may never have owned a book before. Since its founding, the Lisa Libraries has contributed over 500,000 books to nonprofit organizations across the country. 

Visit the website (lisalibraries.org) for easy application criteria. While book donations are free, the Lisa Libraries request that recipient organizations cover shipping costs.

Dollar General Literacy Foundation Grants

Deadlines: February 15, 2024

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation supports literacy initiatives that are helping individuals learn to read, prepare for the high school equivalency test, or learn English through the following grant programs:

• Adult Literacy Grants support organizations that provide direct services to adults in need of literacy assistance in one of the following areas: Adult Basic Education, GED or High School Equivalency Preparation, and/or English Language Acquisition. Maximum grant amount: $10,000.
• Family Literacy Grants support nonprofit organizations who support the whole family in literacy. Such as Adult Education Instruction, Children’s Education, Parent and Child Together Time (PACT); Maximum grant amount: $10,000.
• Summer Reading Grants help nonprofits and libraries with creating or expanding summer reading programs for Pre-K – 12th grade students, below grade level readers, or readers with learning disabilities. Maximum grant amount: $3,000. 

Eligibility: Organizations must be a 501c3 nonprofit, public library, school, or college, within 15 miles of a Dollar General store or distribution center. For more information visit the website. Note: there is a new grant management system for the 2024 grant application cycle. 

The Pilcrow Foundation Rural Public Library Children's Book Grants

Deadlines: Annually, April 1 and October 1

The Pilcrow Foundation's mission is to provide new, quality, hardcover children's books to rural public libraries across the United States. The Children’s Book Project grants provide a 2-to-1 match to rural public libraries that contribute $200-$400 through local sponsors for the purchase of up to $1200 (retail value) of new, quality, hardcover children’s books. Grant recipients can select from a list of over 500 quality hardcover children’s books best suited for their community, including award-winning and star-reviewed titles from educational and literary organizations. 

Applications are accepted from independent rural public libraries and Native American Tribal libraries as well as libraries that are part of a county, regional, or cooperative system. Libraries must be located in a rural U.S. area, with a limited operating budget and an active children’s department, and raise $200-$400 through a local sponsor. Libraries with total operating budgets of less than $50,000 receive priority. A rural community is defined as typically more than 40 miles from an urban area (population over 50,000) and not a part of a metropolitan area. A rural town library system should serve a population under 10,000 (priority to community populations under 5,000). A rural county library system should serve a population under 20,000. 

For more details and the uncomplicated application process, visit the website: https://thepilcrowfoundation.org/childrens-book-project 

Rural public libraries in the United States that have suffered loss and damage due to recent natural disasters (flooding, fire, hurricanes, etc.) may be eligible for special non-matching book grants: Disaster Relief Grant information.

T-Mobile Hometown Grants Program for Small and Rural Communities

Deadlines: Quarterly; the last day of each quarter 

T-Mobile Hometown Grants is a $25 million, five-year initiative to support the people and organizations who help small towns across America thrive and grow. Hometown Grants are given every quarter to up to 25 small towns with populations of less than 50,000. Apply for funding to support a community project of your choice, like revitalizing or repurposing a historic library, creating a downtown asset or destination, technology projects for the public library, or improving a space where friends and neighbors gather. Projects that add to a sense of place or could lead to further investment are of particular interest. Grants are up to $50k per town.

Elected leaders, town managers and employees, and nonprofit leaders are eligible to submit applications. The full proposal should be three-five pages, and include a "shovel-ready” plan, and up to 5 letters of support.

Applications open on a quarterly basis with the following schedule:

• Spring: Applications open January – March
• Summer: Applications open April – June
• Fall: Applications open July – September
• Winter: Applications open October – December

For more information and to apply, visit the website: t-mobile.com/brand/hometown-grants 

2024 EBSCO Solar Grants

Deadline: April 22, 2024

For the ninth consecutive year, EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) is accepting applications for grants that will fund solar installations at libraries around the world. $300,000 in grants are available to help awarded libraries offset their library expenses by incorporating solar power.  All academic, school, and public libraries that are current EBSCO customers are eligible to apply. EBSCO will pay for the initial installation through the grant. The library, town, or college will own the system and be responsible for all post-installation/ongoing maintenance of the solar array. 

There are several criteria that will be used to assess the viability of each submission. For instance, a site with a large roof surface and a newer roof with a lifespan consistent with a new solar system or space for a ground installation.  A library that can support a solar array large enough to offset its electricity costs would be viewed favorably. An institution with an existing sustainability program, a plan to involve its patrons or students in the project, or high community involvement would also receive consideration.

For more information visit  EBSCO Solar at www.ebsco.com/solar for the timeline, a link to the submission form, where to submit questions, FAQs, and profiles of successful grantees.

ALA Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant

 Deadline: February 1, 2024

The American Library Association (ALA) Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant recognizes, promotes, and supports innovative and meaningful community engagement efforts in libraries. School, public, academic, tribal, and special libraries are invited to apply by designing and outlining activities for a library-led community engagement project. Community engagement is the process of working collaboratively with community members – library patrons, residents, faculty, students, or local organizations – to address issues for the betterment of the community. Two grants of $2,000 will be awarded.

For the 2023–2024 cycle, libraries are invited to submit applications for a community engagement project that focuses on community empowerment. Libraries should work collaboratively with community members and at least one partner organization to develop a project that addresses a local issue and builds upon community assets.

Project activities to be covered by the grant may include a project that brings people together to discuss the local economy and works to increase resources to support entrepreneurism; a program that collaborates with a local partner to increase civic participation to help strengthen the community; projects that work with formerly incarcerated individuals to create better avenues for reentry; or a project empowering individuals to celebrate and exercise intellectual freedom.

View the full award guidelines and apply online at www.ala.org/LTCEG.

Latino Poetry: Places We Call Home Grants

Application deadline: February 15, 2024

Grants of $1,200 are available to libraries and other public institutions for programs exploring Latino poetry and its ongoing relevance to American national life. Applications are open to all public, academic, and community college libraries, museums, and nonprofit community organizations. Presented by Library of America with generous support from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), these grants will fund scholar-moderated discussions and other programs in communities across the nation from September 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025.

Programs will be focused on poems spanning the colonial period to the present, selected to inspire discussion of the project’s eight core humanities themes, which center on identity, place, language, struggle, family and community, and music in Latino poetry. Featured poems will be provided in a free, downloadable Latino Poetry Reader, which will also include brief introductions to the humanities themes, biographies of poets, questions for discussion, and suggestions for further reading.

Grants may be used for honoraria for local poets and scholars, travel expenses, actor/performer fees, publicity and promotion, refreshments, or other program costs.

For more information and to apply, visit the website, https://www.latinopoetry.org.

Snapdragon Book Foundation School Grants

Deadline: February 11, 2024

The Snapdragon Book Foundation was started in 2008 by a school librarian to provide funds to improve school libraries for disadvantaged children. Grants are given to U.S. school libraries serving children, PreK through 12 years old. Grants typically range from $2,500 to $10,000. 

Grant funds may be used for: books that will be used repeatedly by school-aged children through classroom libraries, central library (or something similar); processing or cataloging fees from book vendors (for processing of the books ordered in conjunction with your Snapdragon project); reference materials for use by students; and for magazine or newspaper subscriptions.

For ideas of successfully funded grant projects, view the awarded grants on the website. For more information and the online application, visit: http://snapdragonbookfoundation.org.

Talk Story Grants: Sharing Stories, Sharing Culture

 Deadline: March 15, 2024

The American Indian Library Association and the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association are offering four $500 micro-grants, for the Talk Story: Sharing Stories, Sharing Culture program. This family literacy initiative connects Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (AANHPI), and American Indigenous or Alaskan Native (AIAN) communities across generations. The Talk Story micro-grant program celebrates and explores AANHPI and AIAN stories through books, oral traditions, and cultural arts to provide interactive and enriching experiences for all ages. This grant provides financial support to libraries and community organizations who are motivated to promote intergenerational literacy through programming, services, and collections. Talk Story programs may be conducted in-person or virtually. 

Libraries, archives, museums, and community organizations that serve AANHPI and/or AIAN children and their families are eligible to apply. With the exception of cross-border tribal organizations, all organizations must be based in the United States or U.S. territories.

Selection is based upon:

• creativity and originality of the implementation of the Talk Story program
• accuracy in portrayal of APIA/AIAN cultures
• financial need
• involvement of the library, community, and community organizations as participants, leaders, and promoters of the program
• proposals that reflect the core values of family literacy, intergenerational programming and service, cultural literacy, and representation of APIA and AIAN identities and communities
• projects that actively disrupt stereotypes, decenter colonialism, and hold space for APIA/AIAN agency 

Funds may be used to purchase library materials such as books, audiovisual materials, supplies for activities/crafts, programming costs such as hiring a storyteller, etc. At least 25% of funds must be used for library materials. No more than 10% of funds may be used for refreshments and decorations. Funds must be used to support at least one AANHPI or AIAN themed program for children and their families at the institution that receives the grant.

For more information and to apply, visit the website: http://www.apalaweb.org/talkstorytogether/grant/ 

RUSA Stephen T. Riedner Grant for Life Enhancing Library Programs for People Living with Dementia

Deadline: February 23, 2024

The Stephen T. Riedner Grant for Life Enhancing Library Programs for People Living with Dementia presents a citation and a grant of $2,500 each to two libraries to support the creation of new services and/or new programming to serve those living with dementia.

Grant submissions could include, but are not limited to, projects focused on:

• Inclusion – welcoming this population into the library/community
• Staff dementia awareness training
• Person-centered focus – address unique needs as individuals with their own interests, abilities, and history
• Literacy activities that promote the use of books and reading as at least one component of programming (which can include art, music, exercise, nature, etc. as well)
• Academic research into reading and dementia
• Developing partnerships with local organizations that also serve those living with dementia

Applicants do not need to be a member of ALA. Anyone can apply regardless of nationality. Projects that have already been implemented are not eligible for this grant.

For more information and a link to the short online application, visit the website: https://www.ala.org/rusa/stephen-t-riedner-grant-life-enhancing-library-programs-people-living-dementia

Penguin Random House Grants for Small & Rural Libraries

Deadline: December 15, 2023

Through the support of Penguin Random House, this Association of Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) grant opportunity is for small and rural public, school, and tribal libraries nationwide. Up to 25 $1,000 grants may be awarded. ARSL membership is not required to participate.

Applicants may request either:
A monetary grant in support of a community-oriented project for up to $1,000.
or
A book donation grant of up to $1,000 to support a circulating collection in your library.

The program will award grants to libraries that demonstrate a true need. Monetary grants are not limited to literacy and may be used for everything from library programming and books to resources like hotspots that help community members access important information. Library seeking support for digital collections should request a monetary grant.

The Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) defines a rural community as one that is more than, or equal to, five miles from an urbanized area (defined as a town/city with a population of 25,000 or greater) and small communities to have a population of 25,000 or less. This round of grant funding is available to libraries that meet both of these parameters. 501(c)3 status is not a requirement for eligibility.

To apply and preview the short application, visit the website: https://www.arsl.org/prh-grant

Save America's Treasures Grant Program

Deadline: December 19, 2023

Save America's Treasures is a National Park Service grant program in collaboration with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. This grant program supports preserving nationally significant historic properties and collections and requires a dollar-for-dollar match. Grants are awarded to Federal, state, county, local, and tribal government entities, including independent school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, and non-profit organizations. Based on prior years, the NPS anticipates funding between 30 and 70 projects from the $26.5 million Congress has appropriated for this grant program in Fiscal Year 2023.

Grants are available for preservation and/or conservation work on nationally significant intellectual and cultural artifacts and historic structures and sites. This grant program is divided into two parts:

• Preservation projects (for properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places for national significance or designated a National Historic Landmark. The property may be listed on either individually or as contributing to a nationally significant district). These awards are managed by the National Park Service. Award amounts of a minimum of $125,000 and a maximum of $750,000 Federal share.
• Collections projects including artifacts, museum collections, documents, sculptures, and other works of art. These awards are managed by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Award amounts of a minimum of $25,000 and a maximum of $750,000 Federal share.

For more information, view the grant website: nps.gov/subjects/historicpreservationfund/save-americas-treasures-grants.htm. The Save America's Treasures program accepts online applications through www.grants.gov, the federal online grantmaking portal. Ensure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations and passwords are current. The application for collections projects is available under funding opportunity number P23AS00500. The application for preservation projects is available under funding opportunity number P23AS00499.

AAS Jay M. Pasachoff Solar Eclipse Mini-Grants Program

Deadline: November 10, 2023, 5pm Eastern

The American Astronomical Society (AAS) Solar Eclipse Task Force's Jay M. Pasachoff Solar Eclipse Mini-Grants Program invites proposals for small grants to fund programs, activities, and events that will engage the public with the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse across North America. 20 to 30 mini-grants will be awarded in the range of $1,000 to $5,000 and a smaller number of awards in the augmented range of $5,001 to $20,000. Applicant organizations should include primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, public libraries, science centers and museums, and community groups that have nonprofit status.

Priority is given to programs specifically designed to engage meaningfully in eclipse education, outreach, and science activities with under-represented groups, including women/girls, ethnic minorities, and people with physical and/or mental disabilities. Building on existing partnerships within the target communities is especially encouraged. Programs should engage the public in the local communities via education, outreach, and/or science programs held in venues such as science museums, planetariums, libraries, afterschool programs, schools, colleges, etc. No grants will be awarded for activities limited to students in one school or that fail to engage families and the public in some way. Proposals spearheaded by consortia of science educators and organizations reaching underserved populations are encouraged.

General examples of the types of projects and activities that may be included in proposals:

• public education events, such as outreach programs at a public library, community center, or place of worship to prepare local communities for the total or partial eclipse (particularly programs that repeat, have an ongoing component for engagement, or involve something more than a single public lecture or presentation);
• "train the trainer" programs to support eager members of under-represented groups in becoming role models who will spread passion for science and nature throughout their communities;
• scientific research and/or citizen science projects to be carried out during the eclipse;
• professional development for STEM educators or community leaders serving underserved communities in preparation for the eclipse;
• workshops for local media to ensure the dissemination of accurate eclipse information, science, and safe-viewing instructions to the local community; and,
• development of eclipse resources and materials, including apps, software, podcasts, and bilingual materials, designed to make the eclipse experience meaningful for diverse and underserved communities, e.g., women/girls, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and/or non-native English speakers.

Specific examples of the types of projects and activities the Society would like to fund include:

• building Sun-Moon-Earth models to explain the geometry of eclipses at an after-school program;
• constructing pinhole projectors or other safe-observing devices at a community center or similar venue;
• 3D printing tactile displays or assembling other assistive devices to enable blind and low-vision communities to experience the solar eclipse in meaningful ways;
• engaging students to gather data on the behavior of animals, insects, birds, or flowering plants as the environment changes during the solar eclipse; and,
• forging a partnership between a community center and an amateur astronomy group to purchase solar telescopes and/or filters and build a sustained program beyond the April 2024 eclipse. 

Proposals are limited to 4 pages: 2 pages of descriptive text and 2 pages with an itemized budget and detailed budget justification. Letters of commitment do not count against the page limit.

For more details and a link to the application, visit the website: eclipse.aas.org/mini-grants/call-for-proposals

NEH National Digital Newspaper Program

 Deadline: January 12, 2024 (Optional draft due November 30, 2023)

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Preservation and Access is accepting applications for the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP). This program creates a national digital resource of historically significant newspapers published between 1690 and 1963 from all states and U.S. jurisdictions. The Library of Congress (LOC) maintains this freely accessible, searchable online database. 

Successful applicants will select newspapers—published in their state or jurisdiction between 1690 and 1963—and over a period of two years, convert approximately 100,000 pages into digital files (preferably from microfilm), according to the technical guidelines outlined by LC. The maximum award amount is $325,000 with an estimate of ten awards. NEH welcomes applications that involve collaboration between prior NDNP recipients and new partners. Such collaborations might involve arranging with experienced recipients to manage the creation and delivery of digital files; offering regular and ongoing consultation on managing aspects of the project; or providing formal training for project staff at an onsite institute or workshop.

NDNP supports dissemination activities that engage the wider public in exploring the digitized content, within appropriate limits. Your budget may include staff time, consultation with outside experts, and other eligible expenses related to disseminating the NEH-funded products, but the primary purpose of this program is to create a national digital resource of historically significant newspapers. Prior recipients may apply for subsequent NDNP awards to further newspaper digitization efforts.

Ensure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations and passwords are current. It may take several weeks to register with SAM.gov and Grants.gov. 

The application and more details are provided on the NEH website: 

https://www.neh.gov/grants/preservation/national-digital-newspaper-program 

ALA Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities

 Deadline: December 11, 2023

The American Library Association (ALA) invites applications from small and rural libraries for more than $7 million in grants to increase the accessibility of facilities, services, and programs to better serve people with disabilities. This is the second of two rounds of grants to be distributed ranging from $10,000 to $20,000.

Selected libraries will conduct community input-gathering sessions to ensure their work aligns with local needs. Libraries will be required to identify the primary audience they are hoping to reach (e.g., homebound seniors, children with autism, Deaf community members) and facilitate a community conversation with the impacted populations in order to guide the improvement of the library’s services. Grantees will then use the funds to create services or improve their facilities based on the needs identified by their audience.

The opportunity is open to libraries serving small and rural communities in the U.S. and U.S. territories. To be eligible, a library must have a legal area population of 25,000 or less and be located at least five miles from an urbanized area, in keeping with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) definitions of small and rural libraries.

Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities is part of ALA’s longtime commitment to preparing library workers for the expanding role of libraries. The initiative is offered in partnership with the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL).

For more information, including a valuable FAQ, visit ala.org/tools/librariestransform/libraries-transforming-communities/access.

NEH: Digital Humanities Advancement Grants

Deadlines

Optional draft due: November 13, 2023
Final Deadline: January 11, 2024

Proposals are welcome in any area of the humanities from organizations of all types and sizes. The Digital Humanities Advancement Grants program (DHAG) supports innovative, experimental, and/or computationally challenging digital projects, leading to work that can scale to enhance scholarly research, teaching, and public programming in the humanities.

IMLS encourages DHAG applicants to work in collaboration, and employ the expertise of, library and archives staff at your institution or across the country to strengthen knowledge networks, empower community learning, foster civic cohesion, advance research, and support the traditionally underserved.

The maximum award amounts are:

• Level I: $75,000
• Level II: $150,000
• Level III: $350,000 in outright funds, with an additional $100,000 in matching funds

Examples of expected outputs include:  articles, digital infrastructure, digital resources or publications, reports, software, teaching resources, and workshops. Projects can be carried out during a time period of up to thirty-six months.

DHAG applicants must respond to one or more of these programmatic priorities: 

• research and refinement of innovative, experimental, or computationally challenging methods and techniques
•  enhancement or design of digital infrastructure that contributes to and supports the humanities, such as open-source code, tools, or platforms
• evaluative studies that investigate the practices and the impact of digital scholarship on research, pedagogy, scholarly communication, and public engagement.

Application: Please visit the website at https://www.neh.gov/grants/odh/digital-humanities-advancement-grants for more details and application information.

IMLS National Leadership Grants

Deadline: September 20, 2023 (two-page preliminary proposals)

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is now accepting FY 2024 proposals for National Leadership Grants for Libraries (NLG-L).

The National Leadership Grants for Libraries program supports projects that address critical needs of the library and archives fields and have the potential to advance practice in these professions to strengthen library and archival services for the American public. Successful proposals will generate results such as new models, new tools, research findings, services, practices, or alliances that will be A free, on-demand informational webinar is available on the IMLS website.

There are four project types, Planning Grants, Forum Grants, Implementation Grants, and Applied Research Grants with award amounts ranging from $50,000 to $1,000,000. IMLS expects to award $11,500,000 through approximately 39 anticipated awards.

Application Process: Applicants must apply electronically through Grants.gov Workspace. The application process for the NLG-L program has two phases; applicants must begin by applying for Phase I. For Phase I, all applicants must submit two-page Preliminary Proposals by the September 20th deadline. For Phase II, only selected applicants will be invited to submit Full Proposals, and only those Invited Full Proposals will be considered for funding. Invited Full Proposals will be due March 20, 2024. Application: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for FY 2024 (PDF, 675KB).

Library of Congress Community Collections Grants

Deadline: August 18, 2023

Through a gift from the Mellon Foundation, the Library of Congress will support a multiyear initiative, The Community Collections Grants from the American Folklife Center. These grants will fund and support contemporary cultural documentation focusing on the culture, traditions, and expressions of diverse, often underrepresented communities in the U.S.

 
The program is open to U.S. individual applicants and non-profits, including institutions of higher education, colleges and universities, as well as professional associations and community groups. For 2024, the Library intends to award ten 12-month grants of up to $50,000 each to support projects within their communities to produce ethnographic cultural documentation, such as interviews with community members and audio-visual recordings of cultural activity, from the community perspective. Funding through these awards can be used to cover travel, equipment rental or purchase, and other expenses associated with cultural documentation fieldwork.

The major goals of this grant program are to enable communities to document their cultural life and experiences from their own perspectives, while enriching the Library’s holdings with diverse materials featuring creativity and knowledge found at the local level. As such, successful applications will come from individuals closely affiliated with the community they propose to document.

The list below offers project ideas intended to spark creativity while leaving room for open possibilities. Projects should incorporate a blend of techniques, such as interviews, still photography, digital video, field notes, or alternative documentation forms.

• Exploration of a community festival or other culturally-meaningful celebration through interviews with organizers and participants, audio-visual documentation of event activities, and any ephemera or material culture;
• Seasonal or periodic documentation of institutions or gathering places, such as farmers markets, informal social hang-outs, craft fairs, or other periodic spaces that might serve as anchors or markers of the community;
• Community-centric reflection on emergent cultural traditions or practices that have developed as responses to the shared collective experience of widespread recent phenomena such as the COVID-19 pandemic, social justice movements, or economic change;
• Broad examination of community-specific cultural practices that can serve as markers of various aspects of identity, such as practices around death or bereavement, life milestones, or transition into different modes or phases of living; transmission of language or other intangible aspects of heritage; or informally learned aspects of communication that help cohere a social group;
• Community history of a neighborhood or other type of geographically-delimited collective space that tracks change and continuity from the perspective of current residents, both long-term and newly arrived, via multi-format documentation; and
• Documentation focused on temporality, such as tracing traditions and their changes over time, which can include multi-sited projects but do not need to be delimited geographically.

For more information and application materials, visit the website: https://www.loc.gov/programs/of-the-people/collect-and-preserve/community-collections-grant-application

Call for Library Grant Success Stories!

Deadline: August 20, 2023

 📢I’m on the lookout for a few more inspiring grant stories to showcase the accomplishments of libraries like yours! Be part of the next edition of Winning Grants, 3rd Edition: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians to be published by ALA Editions. Let your experiences inspire and empower others in the library community!

🌟 Big or small, every grant is worth celebrating! Whether your library has received a game-changing grant or a small but impactful one, I want to hear all about it.

🏆 Inspire Others!
By featuring your library in this best-selling book, readers will have the chance to learn from your experiences, triumphs, and challenges. Reading about your accomplishments and impacts, both planned and unexpected, can inspire others to pursue grant opportunities and make a positive impact in their communities.

💡 Learn from Each Other: By sharing your grant journey, you contribute to the collective knowledge of the library community. Your insights and best practices can benefit other libraries facing similar challenges and seeking funding for their projects, serving as a valuable resource for fellow librarians.

🤝 Celebrate Collaborative Spirit: Whether your success came through teamwork or community partnerships, your story celebrates the collaborative spirit that strengthens the library world. Even the most modest success story can show the positive impact of libraries in our communities. Share the joys and lessons of working together for a common cause.

😊Benefit Your Library: Sharing success stories not only raises visibility and highlights your library’s achievements but also increases advocacy, boosts morale, motivates support and funding, establishes your expertise, inspires others to share their stories, and improves your chances of winning more grants!

🏆 Submit your grant success story today and be a source of inspiration for librarians worldwide! To submit your success story, please use this online form to share the details of your grant project and advice for other grant seekers. I look forward to hearing about your achievements and the positive difference you've made through your grant project!

Americans and the Holocaust: A Traveling Exhibition for Libraries

Deadline: October 14, 2023

With support from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM), the American Library Association Public Programs Office (ALA PPO) is seeking sites to host Americans and the Holocaust, a traveling exhibition that examines the motives, pressures, and fears that shaped Americans’ responses to Nazism, war, and genocide in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s. The USHMM and ALA PPO hope to challenge people to ask themselves “what would I have done?” and also, “what will I do?”

Fifty public and academic libraries will be selected to host the exhibition, starting June 2024 through July 2026. Libraries will host the exhibition for five to six weeks and implement at least four public programs. The exhibition requires approximately 1,100 square feet of space for display and includes 4 films, 1 touchscreen interactive, and 4 tablets. Each site will receive a programming allowance of $3,000 and access to online support with programming suggestions and a full publicity kit, including sample promotional materials and templates for press and social media outreach.  

There will be an in-person orientation workshop, facilitated by ALA and museum project staff, held at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC on May 15-16, 2024. The project director must attend this two-day training and will receive a stipend to cover the costs of travel to and from Washington, DC, and two nights in a hotel.

For more information and a link to the online application portal, ALA Apply, visit https://www.ala.org/tools/programming/USHolocaustMuseum.

African Poetry Digital Humanities Grant

Deadline Extended: July 7, 2023

The African Poetry Digital Portal Project funded by a grant from the Andrew Mellon Foundation invites proposals from scholars and researchers for the African Poetry Digital Humanities Grant. A grant of $15,000 for the 2023-2024 academic year will support Digital Humanities research in African Poetry. Projects must use digital research methods or encompass scholarship that applies computing technologies in humanistic inquiry. Applicants are encouraged to use Portal resources to help expand the impact of the Portal in the broader community of African Digital Humanities Scholarship. Most importantly, African Poetry must be at the center of the research.

The African Poetry Digital Portal documents the work of African poets and provides equitable digital access to the related creative and intellectual artifacts, materials and research on the subject of African Poetry, housed in academic and cultural institutions in Africa and its Diaspora, to, among other things, create accessible ways to engender an informed, culturally diverse, civically engaged and responsible society.

The online application submission is available through Submittable, and you can find more details about the grant along with a link to create an account for submission on the official website at: https://africanpoetrybookfund.submittable.com/submit/225152/african-poetry-digital-portal-digital-humanities-grant.

ALA "Thinking Money for Kids Program Kit" Grants

Deadline: September 8, 2023

The American Library Association (ALA), in partnership with the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, invites public libraries to apply to receive a Thinking Money for Kids Program Kit, a collection of expertly vetted resources to help libraries offer financial education programming for children ages 3 to 12, both in the library and in children’s homes.

Approximately 200 public libraries (including tribal and state libraries) located in the U.S. and U.S. territories will be selected to receive a Thinking Money for Kids Program Kit (estimated kit value: $2,000). Libraries will keep all kit contents after the grant period ends. As of June 2023, the kit contains everything needed to host five different in-person programs, including a party planning budget game, a money-themed puppet show, a money math skills game, a pet ownership costs simulation, and a team-based game involving creating a financially viable farm. Specific components include a puppet stage and characters, items encouraging audience interactivity, paper money, game pieces, a custom-made storage container, approximately 6–8 Playaway Launchpad tablets pre-loaded with digital interactives, and more. Virtual training will cover the kit contents, programming instructions, how to operate the Launchpad tablets, and resources available to grantee libraries.

Kits are expected to be delivered to grantee libraries in July and August 2024. The programming period will run from September 2024 through December 2025. Libraries will be expected to host each of the five in-person children’s programs at least once during that time.

Learn more and complete the simple and straightforward (yay!) application online: https://www.ala.org/tools/programming/thinking-money-kids/programkit. 

ALA Great Stories Club Grant: Imagining Tomorrow: Building Inclusive Futures

Deadline: May 10, 2023 DEADLINE EXTENDED: May 22,2023

The American Library Association (ALA) is inviting applications for a new series called “Imagining Tomorrow: Building Inclusive Futures” as part of their Great Stories Club. The series is designed to explore questions of equity, identity, and alternate futures through science fiction books. 35 libraries will be selected. Applications will be accepted from all types of libraries (public, school, academic, special, etc.) in the United States. Participating libraries must work in partnership with, or be located within, an organization that reaches underserved teens (e.g., alternative high school, juvenile justice facilities, tribal library, drug/alcohol rehabilitation centers, nonprofits serving teen parents, alternative high schools, agencies serving teenaged foster children and shelters serving young adults and families experiencing homelessness).

Selected libraries will receive 11 paperback copies of theme-related books, a $500 programming stipend, and support throughout the grant term. Participating libraries will work with small groups of approximately 10 teens and provide them with four theme-related books to keep. Book discussions will be led by an experienced programming librarian. The theme asks, "How can we imagine and dream of our shared futures together, alongside each other, in order to create better tomorrows?" Selected libraries may choose up to four books from the reading list provided.

For more information and a preview of the application, visit the ALA website: https://www.ala.org/tools/programming/greatstories/resources/future

NEA Challenge America Arts Grants

Deadline: April 27, 2023 (advised to begin registration process on SAM.gov and Grants.gov by the end of March)

Since 2001, the National Endowment for the Arts grant program, Challenge America, has promoted equal access to the arts in communities across America. Challenge America offers support primarily to small organizations for projects in all artistic disciplines that extend the reach of the arts to populations that are underserved. The program features an abbreviated application, a standardized $10,000 grant amount, and a robust structure of technical assistance to facilitate entry to Arts Endowment funding opportunities. This category is an entry point for organizations seeking Arts Endowment funding as first-time applicants as well as previous Arts Endowment applicants who have not been recommended for funding in the last three years. 

Applicants fitting the eligibility requirements may be arts organizations, local arts agencies, arts service organizations, local education agencies (school districts), or other organizations that can help advance the goals of the NEA. The following are eligible to apply:

• Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations;
• Units of state or local government; or
• Federally recognized tribal communities or tribes.

Challenge America supports arts projects in all artistic disciplines. Projects must extend the reach of the arts to populations that are underserved. Possible projects include, but are not limited to: arts programming, including commissioning or presentation of artists or artwork; marketing and promotional activities; and organizational planning. Projects may consist of one or more specific events or activities, and should not cover an entire season of programming. Applicants should carefully read the application Review Criteria and address those criteria in the application. All grants require a nonfederal cost share/match of at least 1 to 1 ($10,000 consisting of cash and/or in-kind contributions). For more information, please visit the website: https://www.arts.gov/grants/challenge-america. 

ALA Community Connect: Fostering Digital Access Grants

Deadline: April 3, 2023

In partnership with Capital One, the ALA Public Programs Office is seeking applicants to participate in Community Connect: Fostering Digital Access. This pilot will provide 11 rural public libraries located in select states (Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia) with a resource package to support digital access during a one-year library implementation period.

The goals of this initiative are to:

• expand service capacity of rural libraries by offering hotspot and laptop lending policies; digital literacy programs; affordable broadband access information; and financial capability seminars.
• improve the digital access of rural library patrons via hotspots and laptops to enhance opportunities for social mobility by pursuing remote education, economic inclusion, financial management, and health.
• build on the efficacy of phase I by equipping libraries with resources to assist patrons in establishing and sustaining home internet connections via opportunities like the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

In the first pilot stage of Community Connect, Digital Access at Home, 20 rural libraries received resources to offer a hotspot lending program to their patrons. Findings from this phase showed that providing patrons with the ability to access online resources, especially during the pandemic, supported an improved quality of life. Digital access is critical to connecting rural communities to education, entrepreneurship, and employment, as well as to health, financial and other services that are increasingly only accessible online.

Libraries selected to participate in the second phase of Community Connect will receive:

• Five Verizon Wi-Fi hotspots with one-year contracts and service for lending to patrons
• Five HP laptops for lending to patrons
• A $2,000 stipend to support educational programs
• Professional development and support including a practitioner’s guide and webinars
• Expenses paid for a library staff member to attend a one-day orientation workshop at ALA’s Annual Conference in Chicago in June 2023 (this is not required)

Public libraries are eligible if they serve a population of 25,000 or less and are in a rural community at least 5 miles from an urbanized area, per the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) definition.

Grantees must meet minimum programming and reporting requirements. For more details, and to apply, visit the website: https://www.ala.org/tools/programming/communityconnect