Category Archives: Grants

Apply for Programming Support with the ALA Peggy Barber Tribute Grant

Posted on December 4, 2025 by Christa Porter

For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.

The American Library Association (ALA) invites library workers to apply for the annual Peggy Barber Tribute Grant, to help ease library budget challenges by awarding three libraries $2,500 to support a proposed program, program series, or programming effort.

The Peggy Barber Tribute Grant is an annual grant that recognizes, promotes, and supports meaningful programs in libraries that have limited and/or no access to budgetary support for programming.

Applications for the 2025-2026 cycle are now open through February 2, 2026. Read the grant guidelines and apply online.

Each year, the grant will focus on supporting a specific type of library programming. For the 2025-2026 cycle, libraries are invited to submit applications to support programming related to strengthening community ties through libraries as third spaces.

As one of the few remaining “third spaces” – public spaces where individuals can gather outside their homes or workplaces – libraries are uniquely positioned to bring people together and strengthen communities. Example proposals could include (but are not limited to): an intergenerational gardening program, a program series engaging adults in play-based programming, or a visual arts performance at the library in partnership with a local theater group. Proposed programs should include how it will bring people in your community together, how the program will foster connection amongst participants, and how the program can help folks share space with other people in the community.

All library types – including public, academic, K-12, tribal, and special libraries – in the U.S. or U.S. territories are eligible. Applicants must have a personal or institutional membership with either the American Library Association OR the Association for Rural & Small Libraries.

Last year’s grant was for programming related to combatting isolation for older adults. The 2025 grant was awarded to:

  • Falls City Library & Arts Center in Nebraska to start offering weekly special offerings to older adults called ‘Senior Socials’, to create a space for seniors to gather and socialize consistently. The library will implement weekly senior programs, such as continuing its existing craft program and adding events like chair yoga, classic movie showings, and special speakers.
  • Hartford Public Library in Michigan aims to create more senior events focusing on keeping older adults physically and socially active, such as Tai Chi, chair yoga, and cardio drumming. The library will also start incorporating prizes such as non-perishable food and household and personal care products at senior bingo events.
  • Pottsboro Library in Texas will promote community bonding and celebrate older adults as knowledge contributors with ‘Share & Learn’, a community-driven program where seniors take on the role of presenter by sharing valuable skills and life experiences with others to help preserve knowledge and boost self-confidence.

Margaret “Peggy” Barber was a transformative leader in ALA and the library field who was behind the creation of National Library Week and the Celebrity READ series. Read Library Journal’s tribute.

The Peggy Barber Tribute Grant was created with donations from Barber’s friends and colleagues. To support the grant, make a contribution to the Peggy Barber tribute fund within ALA’s Cultural Communities Fund.

To stay informed about future grants and awards offered by ALA’s Public Programs Office, sign up for the Programming Librarian e-newsletter.

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Applications Now Open for 2026-27 NEA Big Read Grants

Posted on October 30, 2025 by Christa Porter

For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.

Applications are now open for the 2026-27 cycle of the NEA Big Read, a national program that offers matching grants of up to $20,000 to support community-wide reading programs. This year’s NEA Big Read will center around the theme America250, honoring the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, marking America’s Semiquincentennial.”

The Intent to Apply deadline is January 15, 2026. Final Application due: January 29, 2026. Visit Arts Midwest’s website for complete grant guidelines and to apply.

The 24 NEA Big Read books available for programming this cycle celebrate America’s culture, history, and resilience through the eyes of its people. Using a book selection as inspiration, applicants will facilitate discussions, writing workshops, and creative programming activities that explore this theme and celebrate the unique aspects of their communities.

NEA Big Read At-A-Glance

  • What is it? The NEA Big Read is a reading program that brings communities together around the central theme America250 using one of 24 available books as inspiration. It offers matching grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000.
  • Who can apply? Nonprofit arts organizations, universities, libraries, service organizations, museums, school districts, and tribal governments are all encouraged to apply.
  • Where? Your organization must be located and operate within the United States or the Native Nations that share this geography.
  • When to apply? A mandatory Intent to Apply is due January 15, 2026, with final applications due January 29, 2026. Funded programs will take place between September 2026 and June 2027.

The NEA Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with Arts Midwest.

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Penguin Random House and United for Libraries Announce 2026 Grants for Rural and Small Library Friends Groups

Posted on October 23, 2025 by Christa Porter

In celebration of the 20th annual National Friends of Libraries Week, Penguin Random House and United for Libraries announced new grants for Friends of Libraries serving rural and small libraries across the country. Grants of $500 and $1,000 (totaling $25,000), will be awarded to support libraries in need. Applications for the 2026 grants will be open from December 17, 2025 – January 21, 2026.

These funds will assist Friends of Library groups, or nonprofit groups that support and fundraise for libraries in their communities, with priority projects. In-kind book donation grants of $500 will also be awarded to 20 libraries to purchase Penguin Random House titles.

For more information about the grants and to sign up for updates, visit www.ala.org/united/prhgrant.

Empowering Friends groups to advocate for intellectual freedom

The grant 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. Once primarily focused on school libraries, public libraries have become targets of book banning efforts in recent years, with reports sent to ALA documenting 821 attempts to censor library books and other materials in 2024, the third highest number of book challenges since tracking began in 1990.

“Small and rural libraries are community cornerstones, but today—when the freedom to read is under attack across the country—they are more important than ever. These grants will empower Friends groups to bolster their support and advocacy, ensuring these vital community centers not only survive but thrive. We are honored to launch this program during National Friends of Libraries Week and pleased to partner with United for Libraries to boost the important role of Friends Groups,” said Skip Dye, Senior Vice President of Library Sales and Digital Strategy at Penguin Random House.

When will applications open?

Applications will be open from Dec. 17, 2025-Jan. 21, 2026, and applicants will be notified by March 30, 2026.

For libraries that are interested in applying but don’t know where to start, United for Libraries will present free virtual informational sessions beginning in December, including two 30-minute sessions that include an overview of the process and tips on applying, and a one-hour webinar featuring 2025 grant recipients and their projects. On-demand training includes a session on grant writing basics, and a session on how to start a Friends of the Library group (for libraries that do not currently have an active group); learn more and register.

In addition to a grant of $500 or $1,000, or a book donation grant, recipients will also receive complimentary eLearning from United for Libraries, including a year of access to United for Libraries Learning Live monthly webinars which present in-depth training to library Trustees/Board Members, Friends, Foundations, advocates, and those who work with them, and training on how to leverage the grant funds to build support for the library and the Friends group. Recipients will also receive complimentary registration for Friends of the Library Day of the United for Libraries virtual conference (July 30, 2026) and United for Libraries Friends virtual retreat (spring 2027).

“Friends groups provide much-needed support to libraries by raising money for programs and projects not covered by regular funding, and by being strong advocates for their libraries — their help is crucial right now, when so many libraries are facing challenges to materials, resources, and programs,” said 2024-2026 United for Libraries President Deborah Doyle. “These grants provided by Penguin Random House will enable Friends in rural and small areas to fulfill an unmet need of the library, and to take their support to the next level with United for Libraries training and resources.”

Grants will be administered by 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.

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NCompass Live: Discovering New Grants for Your Library: Think Outside the Box

Posted on October 10, 2025 by Christa Porter

We’ll be ‘Discovering New Grants for Your Library’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, on Wednesday, October 15 at 10am CT..

Due to insufficient budgets, libraries often struggle to provide the services, materials, engaging programming, and professional development that library staff need. Luckily, there are other funding opportunities available, if you just know where to look.

You may know about many library specific grants, but libraries are also eligible for other grants that might not be so obvious. In this session, we will learn how to find grants for your library in unexpected places.

Presenter: Christa Porter, Library Development Director, Nebraska Library Commission.

Upcoming NCompass Live shows:

  • Oct. 22 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY NLA!
  • Oct. 29 – Nebraska Celebration of Books 2025
  • Nov. 5 – From Rotary to the Local Bar: Unexpected Allies in Library Outreach
  • Nov. 12 – There’s Always Something Happening at the Library: Becoming a Daily Destination for Your Community
  • Nov. 19 – Summer Reading Program 2026: Unearth a Story
  • Nov. 26 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Internet Librarian 2025 Highlights
  • Dec. 3 – Social Media Show & Tell!

To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.

NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.

The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.

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Apply now for 2026 Science Kits for Public Libraries (SKPL) Grants

Posted on October 6, 2025 by Christa Porter

For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) – Region 4’s Science Kits for Public Libraries (SKPL) Grant program is offering up to $2,000 in funding to public libraries to establish a circulating science kits collection.
Libraries must be located within the IEEE Region 4 – this includes central and eastern portions of Nebraska – see the green-shaded area of this map: IEEE Regions in the USA

The Application deadline is January 15, 2026. Those libraries which have previously applied for the grant but did not receive funding are invited to submit again.

Public Libraries have a long tradition of building stronger communities by providing life-long learning opportunities for children and teens. The SKPL Team is honored to have the opportunity to enrich the services that public libraries offer. SKPL enables children, parents, and teachers the chance to borrow library kits for hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning at home or in classroom.

Visit the SKPL website, https://r4.ieee.org/skpl/ for the application form and submission details. Contact Doug DeBoer (Douglas.DeBoer@Dordt.edu) with any questions.

Region 4, Science Kits for Public Libraries (SKPL) organization is a volunteer-based organization affiliated with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). SKPL believes all children – regardless of race, gender, financial condition, or home environment – should have access to high-quality, hands-on STEM learning experiences. By making catalyst grants available to public libraries, we empower them to start their own science kit collections that are free and accessible to the public.

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Fern V. Heim Trustee Scholarship for Public Library Board Members: Applications due next week!

Posted on September 25, 2025 by Holli Duggan

Apply for an individual scholarship to attend the NLA 2025 Conference in York on October 22nd-23rd!

**This scholarship is open only to current Nebraska Public Library Board Members!**

The Fern V. Heim Scholarship for Trustees was established by her friend, Mary Louise Dutcher, to honor Fern’s dedication to small public libraries and their trustees. Although Fern’s library career began in special libraries (Head of the UNL Chemistry Department Library, Serials and Circulation Departments of UNL Love Library, and then Director of the Research Library at Goodrich Tire and Rubber in Akron, Ohio), her work at the Nebraska Library Commission was devoted to public libraries. Recognizing that few small library budgets could provide support for librarians, let alone their volunteer trustees, to attend professional meetings, she encouraged them to go whenever possible (at their own expense) if only for a portion of the meeting. As her legacy, it is fitting to assist those trustees through this scholarship program.

The Fern V. Heim Scholarship Award was established to provide assistance to current public library board members with preference to members of the Nebraska Library Association Public Library and Trustee Section (PLTS) for attendance to the Nebraska Library Association Conference or the Association for Rural and Small Libraries Conference.

Applications due by Friday, October 3, 2025!

For more details and application:

Please submit all grant application forms and questions to:
Holli Duggan

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2026 NLC Grants are Open for Applications!

Posted on September 19, 2025 by Christa Porter

Nebraska Accredited Public Libraries and State-run Institutions! Do you have an idea for a program or project you would like to see funded? Apply for an NLC Grant!

Applications are now open for NLC Grants for 2026. Don’t let your library miss out on these opportunities!

The Nebraska Library Commission has made funding available for four grants for 2026: Continuing Education & Training, Internship, Library Improvement, and Youth Grants for Excellence.

Grant applications for these 2026 NLC grants are due November 14, 2025.

For more information about these grants, watch the recording of the NCompass Live webinar, NLC Grants for 2026.

Continuing Education & Training to assist Nebraska libraries in improving the library services provided to their communities through continuing education and training for their library personnel and supporters. Successful applications will show how the continuing education and/or training proposed will support the library’s mission. For this round of CE and training grants, applications should be for events happening before June 2026.

Internship grants work to introduce high school and college students to the varied and exciting work of Nebraska libraries. The internships are intended to function as a recruitment tool, helping the student to view the library as a viable career opportunity while providing the public library with the finances to provide stipends to the student interns.

Library Improvement grants facilitate growth and development of library programs and services in Nebraska public and institutional libraries, by supplementing local funding with state funds designated for these purposes.

Youth Grants for Excellence are available specifically for innovative projects for children and young adults in your community. The program encourages creative thinking, risk-taking, and new approaches to enable youth librarians to begin needed programs and try projects which they have been unable to undertake, and to offer an opportunity to expand youth service capabilities in new and different directions.

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Apply now for the Final Round of ALA’s Libraries Transforming Communities Grant: Accessible Small and Rural Communities

Posted on September 12, 2025 by Christa Porter

For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.

The American Library Association invites applications from small and rural libraries for the final application period of the Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Accessible Small and Rural Communities grant.

Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities is offering grants ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 to small and rural libraries to increase the accessibility of facilities, services, and programs to better serve people with disabilities.

Applications will be accepted through December 11, 2025 at ala.org/LTCAccess.

The opportunity is open to any type of library in the U.S. and U.S. territories that serves a small and rural community – to be eligible, a library must have a legal service area population of 25,000 or less and be located at least five miles from an urbanized area (town/city with a population of 25,000 or greater).

Participating libraries will first conduct community input-gathering sessions to assure that 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 improvement of the library’s services. Grantees would then use the funds to create services or improve their facilities based on the needs identified by their audience.

Selected libraries will receive $10,000 or $20,000 to support costs related to their community engagement project; virtual training to assist project directors in developing their community engagement, facilitation, and disability service skills; a suite of online resources developed to support local programs; and technical and project support from the ALA Public Programs Office throughout the grant term.

For a review of the LTC Access initiative and application process, register for the Pre-Application Webinar on October 1, 2025, and take a look at the Reviewer Rubric that will be used to evaluate your application.

Questions? Contact the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office staff at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 5045, or publicprograms@ala.org

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).

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Nebraska Library Commission Awards Little Free Library Grants to 23 Communities Across the State

Posted on September 10, 2025 by Bailee Juroshek

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 10, 2025

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Sam Shaw
402-471-3216
800-307-2665

Nebraska Library Commission Awards Little Free Library Grants to 23 Communities Across the State

LINCOLN, NE —

The Nebraska Library Commission is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 Little Free Library (LFL) Mini-Grant Program, designed to expand access to books and promote early literacy in Nebraska’s unserved and underserved communities. The Nebraska Library Commission has collaborated with the Little Free Library Organization to provide these grants.

This year, 23 communities across the state will receive funding to either install a new Little Free Library or restock existing ones with high-quality children’s books. Grants of $500 were awarded to sites to establish a new LFL and purchase books, while grants of $250 were awarded to existing LFL locations to enhance their collections.

“On average, kids with access to Little Free Libraries read 1.1 more days per week compared to communities that do not provide LFLs,” said Sam Shaw, Data Coordinator at the Nebraska Library Commission. “We’re thrilled to support these communities in building and sustaining access to reading materials, especially for young learners.”

2025 Grant Recipients Include:

$250 Book Grants (Existing LFLs)$500 Grants (New LFLs + Books)
Village of CairoStamford Village
Long Pine VillageHoskins Village
Waverly Community CenterFordyce Village
Unadilla Public LibraryAlda Village
North Bend Public LibraryChambers Village
Madison Public LibraryEdgar Village
LaVista Public LibraryHomer Village
Lawrence Village
Gresham Public Library
Big Springs Public Library
Faith Memorial Library
Cedar Rapids Public Library
Indianola Public Library
Minatare Public Library
Rushville Public Library
Valentine Public Library

The Little Free Library Mini-Grant Program is sponsored in part by the Nebraska Library Commission and supported by the Little Free Library Organization. Each grant recipient will receive promotional materials to help celebrate and publicize their new or enhanced community reading hub.

As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, “bringing together people and information.”

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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission Website, http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.ailable on the Library Commission Website, http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.

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2026 Infinite Sums Rural & Small Libraries Cohort Grant Program

Posted on September 9, 2025 by Christa Porter

For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.

The Infinite Sums Rural & Small Libraries Cohort Grant Program is supported by the Simons Foundation as part of its Infinite Sums national initiative and offered in partnership with SciStarter. The Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) is proud to offer this educational training experience and financial support to small and rural libraries across the U.S.

Fifteen library workers will be selected to receive $10,000 grants to host math inspired community-wide events for patrons of all ages on Pi Day, Infinity Day, and Fibonacci Day in 2026.
Cohort members will attend monthly virtual training sessions and two in-person gatherings. 

Apply by September 30, 2025 for a chance to receive:

  1. $10,000 program grant
  2. A year-long learning cohort experience
  3. Support for events on Pi Day (3/14), Infinity Day (8/8), and Fibonacci Day (11/23) in 2026
  4. Two in-person gatherings (NYC & ARSL 2026 Conference in Montgomery, AL)

Who can apply:

  1. Public libraries in the U.S.
  2. Must serve a small and/or rural community
  3. ARSL membership not required

Don’t miss out – submit your application today at https://www.arsl.org/infinite-sums-grant

For questions about grant eligibility, email info@arsl.org

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Call for Speakers: Big Talk From Small Libraries 2026

Posted on September 8, 2025 by Christa Porter

The Call for Speakers for Big Talk From Small Libraries 2026 is now open!

Submit your proposal by Friday, December 12, 2025.

This free one-day online conference is tailored for staff from small libraries; the smaller the better!

Small libraries of all types – public, academic, school, museum, special, etc. – are encouraged to submit a proposal.

We’re looking for seven 50-minute presentations and four 10-minute “lightning round” presentations.

Do you offer a service or program at your small library that other librarians might like to hear about? Have you implemented a new (or old) technology, hosted an event, partnered with others in your community, or just done something really cool? The Big Talk From Small Libraries online conference gives you the opportunity to share what you’ve done, while learning what your colleagues in other small libraries are doing.

Here are some possible topics to get you thinking:

  • Unique Libraries
  • Special Collections
  • New buildings
  • Fundraising
  • Improved Workflows
  • Staff Development
  • Advocacy Efforts
  • Community Partnerships
  • That great thing you’re doing at your library!

Speakers must be from small libraries or directly partnered with a small library and submitting a proposal to co-present with the library. Speakers from libraries serving fewer than 10,000 people will be preferred, but presentations from libraries with larger service populations will be considered.

Big Talk From Small Libraries 2026 will be held on Friday, February 27, 2026 between 8:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (CT) via the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Speakers will present their programs from their own desktops. The schedule will accommodate speakers’ time-zones.

This conference is sponsored by the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) and the Nebraska Library Commission.

Photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash

Posted in Books & Reading, Education & Training, Grants, Information Resources, Library Management, Preservation, Programming, Public Library Boards of Trustees, Public Relations, Technology, Youth Services | Tagged | Leave a comment

NCompass Live: NLC Grants for 2026

Posted on September 5, 2025 by Christa Porter

Nebraska Public Libraries and State-run Institutions! Do you have an idea for a program or project you would like to see funded? Apply for an NLC Grant! Learn all about the ‘NLC Grants for 2026’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, September 10 at 10am CT.

The Nebraska Library Commission has made funding available for four grants for 2026: Continuing Education & Training, Internship, Library Improvement, and Youth Grants for Excellence. Don’t let your library miss out on these opportunities!

Grant applications for all 2026 NLC grants will open on September 19 and will be due November 14, 2025.

Join Christa Porter, Sally Snyder, and Holli Duggan, from the Nebraska Library Commission’s Library Development Team, as they provide an overview of the grants, including eligibility requirements and grant guidelines, the application process and grant review, timelines and deadlines. They will also share some tips on writing effective grants.

Upcoming NCompass Live shows:

  • Sept. 24 – Pretty Sweet Tech
  • Oct. 1 – Letters About Literature 2025
  • Oct. 8 – The Do’s and Don’ts of D&D
  • Oct. 22 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY NLA!
  • Nov. 19 – Summer Reading Program 2026: Unearth a Story

To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.

NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.

The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.

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Fern V. Heim Trustee Scholarship for Public Library Board Members

Posted on August 11, 2025 by Holli Duggan

Apply for an individual $500 scholarship to attend either the NLA 2025 Conference in York on October 22nd-24th or to the ARSL 2025 Conference in Albuquerque, NM on September 17th-20th!

The Fern V. Heim Scholarship for Trustees was established by her friend, Mary Louise Dutcher, to honor Fern’s dedication to small public libraries and their trustees. Although Fern’s library career began in special libraries (Head of the UNL Chemistry Department Library, Serials and Circulation Departments of UNL Love Library, and then Director of the Research Library at Goodrich Tire and Rubber in Akron, Ohio), her work at the Nebraska Library Commission was devoted to public libraries. Recognizing that few small library budgets could provide support for librarians, let alone their volunteer trustees, to attend professional meetings, she encouraged them to go whenever possible (at their own expense) if only for a portion of the meeting. As her legacy, it is fitting to assist those trustees through this scholarship program.

**This scholarship is open only to current Nebraska Public Library Board Members!**

The Fern V. Heim Scholarship Award was established to provide assistance to current public library board members with preference to members of the Nebraska Library Association Public Library and Trustee Section (PLTS) for attendance to the Nebraska Library Association Conference or the Association for Rural and Small Libraries Conference.

Applications now due by October 3, 2025!

For more details and application:

Please submit all grant application forms and questions to:
Holli Duggan

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Lois Lenski Covey Foundation Bookmobile Grants

Posted on August 6, 2025 by Christa Porter

For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.

Through the Bookmobile Grant Program, the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation awards grants to organizations that operate a lending bookmobile that travels into neighborhoods populated by underserved youth.
The grants are for purchasing books published for young people preschool through grade 8, Early Reader books through Young Adult and Hi-Lo books.  

Bookmobiles operated by charitable [501(c)(3)] and other non-taxable agencies, including public libraries or schools, are eligible. The Foundation provides 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 book purchases, and cannot be used for administrative or operational uses.

Only hardcopy (paper) applications will be accepted by mail. A link to a downloadable application and detailed instructions for completing and sending the application are available at the Bookmobile Grant Application webpage.

2025 Applications must be postmarked by August 15, 2025.

Questions regarding the Foundation’s bookmobile grant program may be emailed to bookmobile@loislenskicovey.org.

About the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation

The purposes of the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation are to advance literacy and foster a love of reading among underserved and at-risk children and youth. Lois Lenski, celebrated author and illustrator of over one hundred children’s books and the 1946 Newbery medalist for Strawberry Girl, established the Foundation as a charitable institute in 1967. Since then the Foundation has assisted over 400 organizations in their efforts to nurture reading skills, gain access to books, and instill a love of reading.

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Enter Your Library to Win the 2025 Jerry Kline Community Impact Prize

Posted on August 4, 2025 by Christa Porter

For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.

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. The winning library will also be profiled in the March 2026 issue of Library Journal and online.

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
  • Inclusive service that supports broad community interests
  • 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
  • Resilience in the face of challenges

Eligibility: All U.S. Public Libraries are eligible for the prize.

Application Deadline: September 15, 2025.

Please submit nominations via the form found here.

Questions? Please contact Lisa Peet, Executive Editor, Library Journal, at lpeet@mediasourceinc.com

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Fern V. Heim Trustee Scholarship: Due Friday, August 1st!

Posted on July 30, 2025 by Holli Duggan

Apply for an individual $500 scholarship to attend either the NLA 2025 Conference in York on October 22nd-24th or to the ARSL 2025 Conference in Albuquerque, NM on September 17th-20th!

The Fern V. Heim Scholarship for Trustees was established by her friend, Mary Louise Dutcher, to honor Fern’s dedication to small public libraries and their trustees. Although Fern’s library career began in special libraries (Head of the UNL Chemistry Department Library, Serials and Circulation Departments of UNL Love Library, and then Director of the Research Library at Goodrich Tire and Rubber in Akron, Ohio), her work at the Nebraska Library Commission was devoted to public libraries. Recognizing that few small library budgets could provide support for librarians, let alone their volunteer trustees, to attend professional meetings, she encouraged them to go whenever possible (at their own expense) if only for a portion of the meeting. As her legacy, it is fitting to assist those trustees through this scholarship program.

**This scholarship is open only to current Nebraska Public Library Board Members!**

The Fern V. Heim Scholarship Award was established to provide assistance to current public library trustees with preference to members of the Nebraska Library Association Public Library and Trustee Section (PLTS) for attendance to the Nebraska Library Association Conference or the Association for Rural and Small Libraries Conference.

Applications due by August 1, 2025!

For more details and application:

Please submit all grant application forms and questions to:
Holli Duggan

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Fern V. Heim Trustee Scholarship: Still Time to Apply!

Posted on July 17, 2025 by Holli Duggan

Apply for an individual $500 scholarship to attend either the NLA 2025 Conference in York on October 22nd-24th or to the ARSL 2025 Conference in Albuquerque, NM on September 17th-20th!

The Fern V. Heim Scholarship for Trustees was established by her friend, Mary Louise Dutcher, to honor Fern’s dedication to small public libraries and their trustees. Although Fern’s library career began in special libraries (Head of the UNL Chemistry Department Library, Serials and Circulation Departments of UNL Love Library, and then Director of the Research Library at Goodrich Tire and Rubber in Akron, Ohio), her work at the Nebraska Library Commission was devoted to public libraries. Recognizing that few small library budgets could provide support for librarians, let alone their volunteer trustees, to attend professional meetings, she encouraged them to go whenever possible (at their own expense) if only for a portion of the meeting. As her legacy, it is fitting to assist those trustees through this scholarship program.

**This scholarship is open only to current Nebraska Public Library Board Members!**

The Fern V. Heim Scholarship Award was established to provide assistance to current public library trustees with preference to members of the Nebraska Library Association Public Library and Trustee Section (PLTS) for attendance to the Nebraska Library Association Conference or the Association for Rural and Small Libraries Conference.

Applications due by August 1, 2025!

For more details and application:

Please submit all grant application forms and questions to:
Holli Duggan

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Books Unbanned Programming Funding Available

Posted on July 11, 2025 by Christa Porter

For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.

Books Unbanned is offering funding to libraries in the United States to launch programming for teens and young adults focused on the freedom to read.

Selected libraries will receive up to $10,000 to develop teen and young adult programming focused on the freedom to read. BPL’s Books Unbanned team will work closely with awardees to develop educational programming that provides teens with the knowledge and skills to fight back against censorship in their communities and beyond.

Proposals are open to all types and sizes of libraries within the United States. In awarding funds, BPL will pay particular attention to libraries serving small and rural communities, and/or communities facing significant challenges with book censorship. The final selection of partners will be based on community need, programming goals and opportunities for teen engagement.

Applications are open through July 18, 2025. 

Learn more and apply on the Books Unbanned Funding webpage.

Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) founded Books Unbanned in 2022 to provide teens nationwide with unrestricted access to our entire digital collection, to support their right to read what they like, and to build a network of advocates nationwide to defend and expand the freedom to read.

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$60,000 in Library Improvement Grants Awarded to Nebraska Public Libraries

Posted on July 10, 2025 by Bailee Juroshek

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 10, 2025

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Christa Porter
402-471-3107
800-307-2665

$60,000 in Library Improvement Grants Awarded to Nebraska Public Libraries

The Nebraska Library Commission recently awarded Library Improvement Grants for 2025 totaling $60,000 to twenty-seven Nebraska public libraries and institutions.

These competitive grants were funded with state funds allocated through the Nebraska Legislature and administered by the Nebraska Library Commission. These Library Improvement Grants help to facilitate growth and development of library programs and services by supplementing local funding with state funds designated for these purposes.

In order to be funded, projects had to meet one or more of the following purposes:

  • Facilitate access to resources . . . for the purpose of cultivating an educated and informed citizenry;
  • Encourage resource sharing among . . . libraries for the purpose of achieving economical and efficient delivery of library services to the public;
  • Promote literacy, education, and lifelong learning and to enhance and expand the services and resources provided by libraries, including those services and resources relating to workforce development, 21st century skills, and digital literacy skills;
  • Ensure the preservation of knowledge and library collections in all formats and to enable libraries to serve their communities during disasters;
  • Promote library services that provide users with access to information through national, state, local, regional, and international collaborations and networks.

Local libraries also had to provide at least a 25% match in order to receive the funds.

The libraries receiving grants are:

  • Arapahoe Public Library
  • Bayard Public Library
  • Bellevue Public Library
  • Garfield County Library, Burwell
  • Elmwood Public Library
  • Falls City Library & Arts Center
  • Fullerton Public Library
  • Genoa Public Library
  • Lied Imperial Public Library
  • Kimball Public Library
  • La Vista Public Library
  • Laurel Community Learning Center
  • Lincoln City Libraries
  • Papillion Public Library
  • Plainview Public Library
  • Baright Public Library, Ralston
  • Lied Randolph Public Library
  • Ravenna Public Library
  • Sargent Township Library
  • Shelton Public Library
  • South Sioux City Public Library
  • Stanton Public Library
  • Maxine White-Sutherland Public Library
  • Valley Public Library
  • Lied Lincoln Township Library, Wausa
  • Maltman Memorial Public Library, Wood River
  • Yutan Public Library

The projects and services planned include: desktop computers, laptops, monitors, printers, Microsoft software, bookcases/shelving, tables, chairs, makerspace equipment, self-checkout stations, staff desk, a 3D scanner, an Infinity Game Table, cell phone charging lockers, a book return, a bike rack, solar lights, Experience Kits for adults, and AWE Early Learning Literacy Workstations.

As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, bringing together people and information.

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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission Website, http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.

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CE Grants: Applications Open for ARSL & MPLA Conferences!

Posted on June 25, 2025 by Holli Duggan

Apply now for a $500 grant to attend the ARSL 2025 Annual Conference or the
MPLA-ND-SD 2025 Tri-Conference!

Application Deadline: Wednesday, July 9th, 2025

The purpose of these grants is to assist Nebraska libraries in improving the library services provided to their communities through continuing education and training for their library personnel and supporters. Successful applications will show how attending this conference will support the library’s mission.

Eligible costs include:

  • Registration
  • Travel
  • Meals
  • Lodging
  • Preconference fees (but does not include networking or social events)

The applicant must be either 1) employed in an accredited Nebraska public library or a state-run institutional library at the time of application and for the duration of the conference, or 2) a current board member of an accredited Nebraska public library at the time of application and for the duration of the conference.

For more information on the application process and application forms, please see:

***Library Board Members: The Fern V. Heim Library Trustee Scholarship is still open for applications until August 1st! ***

If you have any questions, please contact Holli Duggan.

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