Penguin Random House and United for Libraries Announce 2026 Grants to U.S. Small and Rural Libraries

Penguin Random House and United for Libraries today announced a 2026 grant program serving rural and small libraries across the country. Grants of $500 and $1,000 (totaling $25,000), will be awarded to support libraries in need. Specifically, grant funds will assist Friends of Library groups, or nonprofit groups that support and fundraise for libraries in their communities, with priority projects. In-kind book donation grants of $500 will also be awarded to 20 libraries to purchase Penguin Random House titles.

Grants will be administered by United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, whose mission is to support those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for all types of libraries. Grant funding is provided by Penguin Random House.

The new program comes at a critical time for the library community as the freedom to read faces increased attacks in the form of book bans and challenges. Once primarily focused on school libraries, public libraries have become targets of book banning efforts in recent years, with reports sent to ALA documenting 821 attempts to censor library books and other materials in 2024, the third highest number of book challenges since tracking began in 1990.

Applications for the program will be open from Dec. 17, 2025-Jan. 21, 2026, and applicants will be notified by March 30, 2026. For libraries that are interested in applying but don’t know where to start, United for Libraries will present free virtual informational sessions beginning in December, including two 30-minute sessions that include an overview of the process and tips on applying, and a one-hour webinar featuring 2025 grant recipients and their projects. On-demand training includes a session on grant writing basics, and a session on how to start a Friends of the Library group (for libraries that do not currently have an active group); learn more and register.

In addition to a grant of $500 or $1,000, or a book donation grant, recipients will also receive complimentary eLearning from United for Libraries, including a year of access to United for Libraries Learning Live monthly webinars which present in-depth training to library Trustees/Board Members, Friends, Foundations, advocates, and those who work with them, and training on how to leverage the grant funds to build support for the library and the Friends group. Recipients will also receive complimentary registration for Friends of the Library Day of the United for Libraries virtual conference (July 30, 2026) and United for Libraries Friends virtual retreat (spring 2027).

“Small and rural libraries are community cornerstones, but today—when the freedom to read is under attack across the country—they are more important than ever. These grants will empower Friends groups to bolster their support and advocacy, ensuring these vital community centers not only survive but thrive. We are honored to launch this program during National Friends of Libraries Week and pleased to partner with United for Libraries to boost the important role of Friends Groups," said Skip Dye, Senior Vice President of Library Sales and Digital Strategy at Penguin Random House.

“Friends groups provide much-needed support to libraries by raising money for programs and projects not covered by regular funding, and by being strong advocates for their libraries — their help is crucial right now, when so many libraries are facing challenges to materials, resources, and programs,” said 2024-2026 United for Libraries President Deborah Doyle. “These grants provided by Penguin Random House will enable Friends in rural and small areas to fulfill an unmet need of the library, and to take their support to the next level with United for Libraries training and resources.”

For more information about the grant and to sign up for updates, visit www.ala.org/united/prhgrant.