Tag Archives: Little free library

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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Little Free Library Early Literacy Grants are Now Available

Posted on July 23, 2025 by Sam Shaw

Applications are now being accepted for mini-grants of up to $500, offered by the Nebraska Library Commission, as a part of our initiative to get childhood literacy back on track. We’ve partnered with the Little Free Library organization to offer these grants, with a focus on improving access to books in unserved (communities with no library) and underserved (communities that have a library, but would benefit from additional access points, or increased hours of availability) areas. Applications can be submitted anytime between now and are set to close at midnight on August 22, 2025. If the applicant already has an existing little free library, grants of up to $250 are available for the purchase of early literacy books to stock the LFL location. For those communities seeking to install a Little Free Library, grants of up to $500 are available for the library box, post, and children’s books.

Any community within Nebraska is eligible to apply. Local governments or local civic institutions (e.g. Lions clubs, scout organizations, Rotary, Kiwanis, and others) are all welcome to apply. You MUST have permission to install the LFL box and post, either from the public entity (e.g. city/town) or private entity (if installing on private property).

For some facts about how Nebraska has fallen behind when it comes to childhood literacy, and how little free libraries can help, visit our LFL webpage.

Here is a link to more information about the grants, and a link to the online application. Feel free to reach out with any questions.

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