The Carnegie-Whitney Grant Guidelines

Purpose

The Carnegie-Whitney Grant provides an award that is based on a special fund first established by Andrew Carnegie in 1902, “the income of which is to be applied to the preparation and publication of such reading lists, indexes and other bibliographical and library aids as will be especially useful in the circulating libraries of this country.” The Carnegie Fund was subsequently enhanced by a merger with a fund established by James Lyman Whitney in 1910. The Publishing Committee, a standing committee of the American Library Association, administers the grant.

The Carnegie-Whitney Grant provides grants for the preparation of popular or scholarly reading lists, webliographies, indexes and other guides to library resources that will be useful to users of all types of libraries in the United States.

Eligibility

Grants are awarded to individuals; local, regional or state libraries, associations or organizations, including units, affiliates and committees of the American Library Association, or programs of information and library studies/science. International applicants welcome.

You may view a list of past Carnegie Whitney recipients here.>

Amount

Grants of up to $5,000 are awarded annually. The number and the amount of the grants are at the discretion of the Publishing Committee and vary from year to year.

Scope

The grants are intended to cover preparation costs appropriate to the development of a useful product, including the cost of research. The grants do not cover the costs of final printing or online distribution of the product.

Criteria

The project(s):

  • Must be focused on American libraries
  • Must demonstrate how the project would stimulate the use of library resources
  • Must have the potential appeal and usefulness to a broad audience
  • Must be intended for national distribution
  • Must meet a need for publication
  • Must be completed within two years.
  • Must be new or in process. Completed works, works under contract for publication, or projects associated with the completion of academic work are not eligible.

Deadline

Deadline for submission of the proposal is November 1, 2024.

How to Apply

See the following links for application instructions.

Proposal Requirements

Application Cover Sheet

Responsibilities of Grant Recipients

Please email the Application Cover Sheet and proposal electronically to mbolduc@ala.org in one pdf attachment. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Mary Jo Bolduc

American Library Association

225 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 1300

Chicago, IL 60601

800 545 2433 x5416​​​​​​