Awards and Grants
Every year, the ALA Awards and Grants Program – encompassing opportunities from ALA and its Divisions, Round Tables and Offices – honors recipients for their outstanding service to the library profession, and for their contributions to the advancement of literacy, access and lifelong learning.
In alignment with ALA’s mission of providing leadership and support in the field of library and information services, the program provides grants for material, research and programming support, as well as awards for distinguished service and for exemplary publications and media.
ALA and its member units honor books, print, and other forms of media through a variety of awards. These awards recognize the publications, as well as the authors, illustrators, and publishers who create them.
The ALA Professional Recognition Awards program honors individuals, groups, or organizations that have shown outstanding leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship.
Each year, ALA and its member units support libraries and library workers through grant opportunities providing funding and material support. These grants offer support for library programs, research, professional development, and more.
ALA Scholarship Program
In addition to conferring awards and grants to exemplary library professionals and publications, the American Library Association is committed to supporting the future of the librarian profession. ALA provides more than $300,000 annually in scholarships for study in a master's degree in library and information studies from an ALA accredited program, or for a master's degree with a specialty in school librarianship.
More information
The manual defines the policies and procedures for the management of ALA Awards, Grants and Scholarships.
Join an Award, Grant or Scholarship Jury
Serving on an Award Jury can be a rewarding experience. Learn more about the requirements and responsibilities of jury members.
Establishing a New Award, Grant or Scholarship
Review the requirements and steps to create a new ALA award, grant, or scholarship opportunity.
Frequently asked questions
You can search for current opportunities by following the links below:
Each award and grant offered by ALA has different eligibility requirements, including whether a recipient is required to be a current member of ALA and/or awarding division. You can find eligibility requirements on each award or grant's information page.
You can find more information on volunteering for a selection jury by going to the link below:
Information on the ALA Scholarship Program is listed under the Education & Careers section of the website, or by following the link below.
