Public Programs Office (PPO)

Educational pilot program launched by donation from private donors; matching gifts invited through April 22

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) invites library workers to apply for a new annual grant to support innovative and meaningful community engagement efforts in libraries. 

The Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant will provide $2,000 for a school, public, academic, tribal or special library to expand its community engagement efforts. Libraries are invited to apply by designing and outlining activities for a library-led community engagement project. 

Community engagement — the process of working collaboratively with community members — provides a roadmap to creating sustainable, resilient organizations and communities. Small, rural libraries are nimble, responsive organizations that can work with their communities to create powerful community-led change. By working collaboratively with community members, libraries can create a roadmap to creating sustainable, resilient organizations.

CHICAGO — Thirty-five U.S. libraries have been selected to participate in the American Library Association’s Great Stories Club series on Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT), a thematic reading and discussion program series that engages underserved teens through literature-based library outreach programs and racial healing work.