AASL Announces Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) Collection Development Grants

CHICAGO - Thirteen collection development grants are available to AASL members to create or expand their collection with content to provide context and content that explores Jewish experience, Jewish achievement, and Jewish identity as an antidote to antisemitism. Sponsored by the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, the “Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) Collection Development Grants,” will offer thirteen AASL members $500 in grant funds to create or expand their collection.

Those interested in applying can access the application at www.ala.org/aasl/awards/JAHM. The deadline for applications is November 30, 2026. Late applications will not be considered.

“Every learner deserves access to collections that reflect the diversity of our world and provide opportunities to learn from experiences beyond their own. The JAHM Collection Development Grants help school librarians bring more Jewish American voices and stories into their libraries, enriching learning for all students” said AASL President April Dawkins. “AASL is proud to partner with The Weitzman to support school librarians in creating collections that reflect the breadth and richness of the Jewish American experience. This partnership demonstrates what is possible when organizations come together to equip school librarians with the resources they need to foster curiosity, understanding, and connection among learners.”

“School librarians are trusted educators who play a vital role in helping young people explore history, culture, and perspectives beyond their own experiences. We are delighted to partner with AASL to give librarians the resources they need to ensure that the diverse stories of Jewish American life are represented in school library collections and to highlight the crucial contributions of Jewish Americans to America’s industries, movements, and history,” said the Weitzman’s Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Meirav Abramovitz. “The impact of these grants extends far beyond Jewish American Heritage Month. When school libraries add meaningful resources about Jewish American history and identity, Jewish students have more opportunities to see themselves reflected, while all learners gain a deeper understanding of the diversity and complexity of the American experience.”

The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.

The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History is the only museum in the nation dedicated exclusively to exploring and interpreting nearly four centuries of American Jewish experience. Standing as a joyful bulwark against antisemitism, bigotry, and hate, The Weitzman presents educational programs and experiences that preserve, explore, and celebrate the history of Jews in America, inspiring in people of all backgrounds a greater appreciation for the diversity of the American Jewish experience and the freedoms to which Americans aspire. www.theweitzman.org

Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) is a national month of recognition of the more than 365-year history of Jewish contributions to American culture, celebrated each May per Presidential Proclamation. JAHM serves as an antidote to antisemitism by lifting up the indelible contributions American Jews have made, and continue to make, to our nation’s history, culture, and society. JewishAmericanHeritage.org