ALA Building Library Capacity Grantees 2025

The ALA Building Library Capacity Grants are intended to bolster library operations and services in libraries that had experienced cuts in staffing and or services as a result of the challenges of the pandemic. The ALA Building Library Capacity Grants are supported through a three-year grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

The grants can be used to broaden technology access, develop collections, provide digital instruction, increase staffing, and expand outreach, or maintaining or amplifying other existing service strategies or adding new ones. Each year will focus on helping add capacity to different libraries, especially those serving marginalized or underrepresented segments of the community. Libraries serving New Americans (immigrants and refugees) were designated for the grants in 2025.

Since their inception public libraries in the United States have provided resources and education for New Americans (immigrants and refugees.) Public libraries empower New Americans through English language lessons, workforce skill development classes, civics and citizenship sessions, books and information resources in various languages of their community, and much more.

Grantees

Azusa City Library (CA)

The Azusa City Library partners with local entities provide tutoring, tutor training, legal, digital literacy, and a host of other supportive services to help New Americans to provide a better life for themselves and their families. In the Azusa Unified School District 23% of students are English Language Learners (ELLs) and it is estimated that more than 50% of parents/guardians are English as a Second Language Learners (ESLs). The grant will help the library meet the increased demands for language, citizenship, and online high school equivalency classes.

Bemis Public Library, Littleton (CO)

The Littleton Immigrant Resources Center (LIRC) is a division of the Bemis Public Library, and it has been serving the immigrant community around Denver since 2005. It serves clients from a multitude of nationalities and backgrounds. The library will use the grant to increase instructional hours and add new resources to help immigrants to improve their English language skills for communication, work, citizenship, continued education, or to feel more at home in their new community.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library (NC)

With a population of 1.2 million, the City/County has over 300,000 foreign-born residents. The figure highlights the importance of providing accessible library services for linguistically diverse communities. In 2017, the library created WelcomeCLT to provide information and resources for new residents about navigating their new community. The library will use the grant to translate vital documents to understand and use library services into three new languages—French, Vietnamese, and Russian.

Hornell Public Library (NY)

Hornell is a small, rural community in the western region of Steuben County. Though it only has a population of 8,000 people, it is a diverse community. Eighteen different languages are spoken in the school district. The small staff provided over four hundred programs last year. The library will use grant funds to sustain and expand its multilingual story-times to celebrate the cultural and language diversity of the city. It will acquire additional books in the eighteen languages spoken in the community.

Howard County Library System-Ellicott City (MD)

Twenty-one percent of county residents are foreign born and 148 languages are spoken by students at the Howard County Public Schools. The Library is an important entry point to services for new Americans. Adult basic education has fostered a strong sense of community for adults who either missed formal schooling in their youth or have immigrated and need to strengthen their English language skills for employment and life in Howard County. The grant will be used for a new monthly book club and to create inclusive classrooms and co-created programs with New Americans.

LA County Library (CA)

Los Angeles’ populous immigrant community faces significant challenges on the path to citizenship. Twenty-eight percent of immigrant households have limited English proficiency. The LA County Library will use the grant to expand its Citizenship in a Bag initiative. The Kits, in a dozen languages include flashcards, multimedia tools, and a citizenship folder with step-by-step guidance on the naturalization process, as well as reference materials detailing the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship, and official forms, including the application for naturalization. And handheld translators will be added at circulation desks at 10 libraries.

Oakland Public Library (CA)

Oakland and the Bay Area have an estimated 20,000 indigenous Mam from Guatemala. Many Mam speak little or no Spanish or English – in part because Mam is primarily an oral language. With the grant the Library will create of videos in Mam on library basics (e.g., what resources are available at the library, how to use the computer at the library), expand its outreach to connect and create specific programming for the Mam community. The Library will conduct training for library staff on the Mam community, basic words and phrases, and awareness of common barriers to service.

Prince William Public Libraries (VA)

In the Prince Williams County, almost 42% (222,600) of residents speak a language other than English at home. The most spoken language is Spanish. The Library is committed to embracing its diverse community and reducing barriers to access, including language barriers. With the grant the Library will launch a new series of bi-lingual Spanish-English programs built on the success of the existing programs—Story Time and Music and Movement for preschoolers, and Craft and Story Night, Tastes of the Story Book Club, and Game Night for school-aged children. These new programs will rotated throughout the twelve branches.

Providence Public Library (RI)

In the Providence Public School District approximately 40% of the students are multilingual learners. There is a major gap in services and resources available for young adult immigrants. The Library will provide an Our English for Teens program in the summer, four weeks of targeted English language acquisition programming to young immigrants and refugees. The program, with certified instructors and new resources for the teens will focuses both on strengthening language skills and developing a peer support network to build a foundation for teens to succeed in and out of school.

Revere Public Library (MA)

In Revere, over 42% of residents speak a language other than English at home, and more than 35% of the population is foreign born. The Revere Public Library will partner with The Revere High School and local community and adult education centers to increase bilingual resources and expand English as a Second Language (ESOL) classes. They will provide cultural orientations and family programs that foster cultural exchange and community building.

Saluda County Library (SC)

Sixteen percent of residents of Saluda County are Latino. The Library will empower Saluda County’s New Americans by enhancing access to education, career opportunities, and legal support. It will add citizenship toolkits and English as Second Language (ESOL) materials focused on career readiness, health, and education to our collection will boost language skills and practical knowledge. It will acquire and integrate virtual reality tools to offer an immersive learning environment to increase English language proficiency and knowledge of career pathways across multiple sessions, increasing confidence and employability.

Schaumburg Township District Library (IL)

With 130,000 residents the Schaumberg Township District Library serves a rich community of migrants worldwide with varying degrees of English language acquisition. Countries of origin include India, Mexico, Poland, Japan, Korea, China, Philippines, Venezuela, Ukraine, and Haiti. The Library will reshape its Conversation Clubs to focus on specific topics, such as citizenship interview preparation or job interview practice. The grant will also help expand the Library’s Culture Fair Project.

St. Louis County Library (MO)

With the grant The St. Louis County Library will focus on assisting immigrant & refugee families with school-aged children living in the two school districts with the highest concentrations of foreign-born families. A local non-profit immigrant service agency will provide a case manager and therapist at the two branches during the summer for drop-in session to assisting immigrant families on mental health & social & emotional wellness and provide assistance connecting with other community organizations and resources.

The Houston Public Library (TX)

Nearly one-third of Houston’s 4.3 million residents are foreign born and one hundred and seventy-five languages are spoken. The Houston Public Library support immigrants and refugees with citizenship classes and English Language Learning classes, including Living English Lessons that focus on practical, conversational English skills. With the grant the Houston Public Library will hire an additional English as a Second Language Instructor to meet the growing demand from residents.

Valley of the Tetons Library-Driggs Branch (ID)

In Teton County, many of the county’s workforce, particularly in hospitality, construction, and other industries, are immigrant and refugee workers. In 2023, 30% of the school district student body identified as Hispanic. The Valley of the Tetons Library (VTL) has made efforts to ensure this community feels represented and welcomed. VTL is launching a new Latino Community Engagement Project. The grant will help develop and distribute a comprehensive resource guide tailored to the needs of the Spanish-speaking community, expand Spanish language resources, and programs and services to assist New Americans at the Driggs Branch.

Woodburn Public Library (OR)

Woodburn, Oregon is a town of 30,000 people, and one of the most diverse communities in the state. Today, about 95% of the businesses in downtown Woodburn are Latino-owned. The Woodburn Public Library will add English language classes on the evenings and weekends. Additional grant funds will create a corner of free citizenship resources on the bookmobile.