Public Library Association Conference 2026 Travel Grant

The Minnesota Department of Education offers the Public Library Association Conference 2026 Travel Grant to support library staff in attending the conference from April 1-3, 2026, in Minneapolis. This initiative aims to enhance professional development, networking, and the sharing of best practices. Priority is given to first-time attendees and libraries serving populations under 50,000. Only one staff member from each regional library system may attend in person, with additional virtual participation available.

Minnesota Department of Education
Following our guiding principles of collaboration, leadership and equity we focus on leadership, support and partnership to school districts, charter schools, libraries and other stakeholders. We are dedicated to serving lifelong learners, from birth through adulthood, and working to ensure they are all prepared for career, college and their community.
Purpose and Outcome of the Grant Opportunity
The Minnesota Department of Education makes this funding available to library staff working in a Minnesota public library or tribal library for the purpose of attending the Public Library Association Conference on April 1-3, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota in order to gain essential professional development skills and networking opportunities to help increase impact and develop staff through connection in order to bring back best practices for their libraries and their patrons.
Priority will be given to staff who have never attended a PLA event (or any other professional library conference) and staff who work in a library serving a population of less than 50,000 people.
Only one staff member from each regional library system will be eligible to attend in person, with an additional one staff member from each regional system being eligible to attend the conference virtually.