Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Libraries' Grant

Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Libraries' Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: American Library Association (ALA)
Amount: US $10,000 - US $20,000
Last Updated: September 13, 2025

Summary

The Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Libraries' Grant, initiated by the American Library Association (ALA), aims to enhance accessibility and community engagement in small and rural libraries serving people with disabilities. With funding up to $20,000, selected libraries will receive support for projects that improve library services and facilities. This initiative promotes collaboration with community members to identify and address accessibility needs, ensuring libraries effectively serve diverse populations.

Overview

Initiative Description Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Accessible Small and Rural Communities is an initiative of the American Library Association (ALA) that provides community engagement and accessibility resources to small and rural libraries to help them better serve people with disabilities. Community engagement is the process of working collaboratively with community members — be they library patrons, residents, faculty, students, or partner organizations — to address issues for the betterment of the community. Through these grants, ALA strives to: Increase the accessibility of library facilities, services, and programs for people with disabilities in small and rural communities.Support libraries’ community engagement efforts by providing resources to help them to work with impacted populations to guide improvement of library services. Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries 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). It is supported by a private donor. Award Information Up to 300 libraries will be selected in this application period. ALA will make up to 250 awards of $10,000 to eligible institutions. For applicants interested in undertaking a more ambitious project, ALA will make up to 50 awards of $20,000. Applicants interested in receiving a larger grant must complete an extended version of the application. These proposals will first be considered for an award of $20,000; if not selected for funding at the higher level, the proposal will be considered for a $10,000 award. Libraries selected for funding will receive: $10,000 or $20,000 to support costs related to their community engagement projectVirtual training to assist project directors in developing their community engagement, facilitation, and disability service skillsA suite of online resources developed to support local programs including template press releases, social media messaging, logos, digital promotional materials and template letters that can be used to notify local leaders/officials about the library's project.Technical and project support from the ALA Public Programs Office throughout the grant term, such as access to:Online learning opportunities for grantees intended to assist project directors in promoting their conversation, completing grant reporting requirements and participating in evaluationCommunity of practice for project directors and staff Project Design Libraries should identify the primary audience they wish to better serve with their project. Primary audience should be people with disabilities, such as, but not limited to, people who are neurodivergent, people with physical disabilities, people with learning disabilities, etc. Using preliminary background information (e.g., first hand experience, one-on-one conversations with a member of the primary audience, community survey data), the library should draft a project plan to identify and address the accessibility needs of the primary audience. If selected for funding, the library will facilitate at least one community conversation with the identified primary audience to discuss accessibility in the community and library in order to collaboratively identify existing resources, needs/gaps, and priorities. Based on the conversation outcomes, the library will revise their preliminary project plan to align with the needs/priorities of their primary audience. The library will then implement their finalized plan while sharing information about next steps and inviting feedback from the primary audience throughout the rest of the project. Methods for sharing out information may include, but are not limited to, social media posts, direct mailers, newsletters, etc.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The opportunity is open to all types of libraries serving small and rural communities in the U.S. and U.S. territories.The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) defines libraries serving small and rural communities as those located in an area that’s more than, or equal to, five miles from an urbanized area and with a population of 25,000 or less.Eligible ExpensesLTC grant funds are restricted to project related expenses. Eligible expenses may include, but are not limited to, the following:Library staff timeHonoraria for conversation participantsPayment to project partners for reimbursement or direct funding of services and support provided (e.g., ASL interpreters, live captioners)Facility upgrades (e.g., automatic door openers, accessible signage, sensory space equipment)Tech equipment (e.g., Braillers, iPads, virtual meeting licenses)Purchase of books or other collection materialsTraining for library staff (e.g., disability inclusion training)Project supplies (e.g. markers, index cards, post-its, etc)Promotion and publicityBranches within the same library system may submit individual applications (even if they share the same DUNS number) as long as their institution meets the eligibility requirements. However, please note that this may mean that your applications are competing against each other.Multiple libraries can choose to submit a single application together if they feel they do not have the capacity to administer the grant individually, or if a previously awarded site would like to expand their community engagement efforts by collaborating with a neighboring community. Please note that for libraries that apply together, one library must be selected as the primary applicant with all other institutions included as partners.

Ineligibility

Grant funds may not be used to support indirect costs (e.g. general library administrative expenses) or as donations to other organizations.