The Libri Foundation is a nationwide non-profit organization which donates new, quality, hardcover children’s books to small, rural public libraries in the United States through its BOOKS FOR CHILDREN program. Only libraries within the 50 states are eligible to apply. Libraries are qualified on an individual basis. In general, county libraries should serve a population under 16,000 and town libraries should serve a population under 10,000 (usually under 5,000). Libraries should be in a rural area, have a limited operating budget, and an active children’s department. Please note: Rural is usually considered to be at least 30 miles from a city with a population over 40,000.
Applications are accepted from school libraries only if they also serve as the public library (i.e. it is open to everyone in the community, has some summer hours, and there is no public library in town). Please note: Town libraries with total operating budgets over $150,000 and county libraries with total operating budgets over $450,000 are rarely given grants. The average total operating budget of a BOOKS FOR CHILDREN grant recipient is less than $40,000.
BOOKS FOR CHILDREN grant recipients that have fulfilled all grant requirements, including the final report, may apply for another grant three years after the receipt of their previous grant. Grant recipients that do not fulfill all the grant requirements, including the final report, are not eligible for another grant.
To obtain a grant application from The Libri Foundation:
- Read the application instructions and fill out the form online. The form must be printed out, STAPLED, signed, and returned to The Libri Foundation via mail.
- To receive a paper application in the mail, please email your name and your library’s name and mailing address to The Libri Foundation at libri@librifoundation.org. You may also request an application packet by mail, telephone, or fax at the address or phone numbers given on the Libri Foundation home page.
Applications for this round must be postmarked by
January 23. Grant recipients will be posted on the
Grant Recipients page within a few days after grants are awarded. Acceptance packets are usually mailed 14-18 days after grants are awarded.
http://www.librifoundation.org/apps.html
