ALA Disaster Relief Fund
American Library Association’s Disaster Relief Fund provides funds to libraries in the U.S. and around the world that have been damaged or destroyed due to natural or human-caused disasters.
Please don’t hesitate to contact the American Library Association Chapter Relations Office at 1-800-545-2433, ext 3200 or 2429 or cro@ala.org if you think ALA can help with recovery of libraries damaged in natural disasters. To help international libraries, please contact the American Library Association International Relations Office at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 3200 or 3201 or iro@ala.org.
This page will provide updates and reports on damage to libraries and distribution of funds. It will also provide information where direct donations could be made to specific libraries
2025 Southern California Wildfires
The American Library Association extends our deepest sympathies to those who continue to be affected and to those who have already lost everything. We know of one library that went up in flames: the Palisades Public Library. Libraries are vital lifelines in times of crisis, providing refuge, resources, and essential services. Please consider donating to the ALA Disaster Relief Fund to help restore library services and support the communities they serve.
Libraries have long been cornerstones of communities throughout Los Angeles County. During this difficult time libraries are serving as temporary shelters, answering residents' questions, and assisting with disaster relief applications.
Library Disasters by Year
| Library Name | Month | Location | Description | ALA Grant | Notes |
| April | Flooding; roof damage | Pending | Under Review | ||
| Confidential | March | Flooding due to pipe burst | $500 | Nonpublication request |
Recovery from July 2025 Central Texas Floods
From July 4 - 7, 2025, catastrophic flooding struck the Guadalupe River and the Texas Hill Country, resulting in over 100 deaths and widespread devastation. The full impact on local infrastructure, including libraries is still unfolding as communities begin to assess the damage. The Texas Library Association is accepting donations to its Disaster Relief Fund to respond to library needs.
2025 Southern California Wildfires
The American Library Association extends our deepest sympathies to those who continue to be affected and to those who have already lost everything. We know of one library that went up in flames: the Palisades Public Library. Libraries are vital lifelines in times of crisis, providing refuge, resources, and essential services. Please consider donating to the ALA Disaster Relief Fund to help restore library services and support the communities they serve.
Libraries have long been cornerstones of communities throughout Los Angeles County. During this difficult time libraries are serving as temporary shelters, answering residents' questions, and assisting with disaster relief applications.
Altadena Library Foundation: $5,000 for the joint Connected Wellness initiative with the LA County Library Foundation. The Connected Wellness initiative will purchase Wi-Fi hotspots and other essential items for those impacted by the recent LA Wildfires.
Library Foundation of Los Angeles: $5,000 to assist in the rebuilding of the destroyed Palisades branch.
Westernport Library Flood Recovery in Maryland
September 2024: Hurricane Helene impacted libraries across the Southeast United States. The ALA Disaster Fund provided funding to North Carolina and Tennessee libraries.
North Carolina and Tennessee ALA Disaster Relief Grants
- Hot Springs Branch of Madison County Public Libraries: $10,000 to support recovery efforts including library collections, furnishings, and shelving and maintain temporary services for the community.
- Stokley Memorial Library: $10,000 to aid recovery from severe flooding caused by the Pigeon River which impacted flooring, electrical, and IT in the library.
- Haywood County Public Library: $1,500 to address uninsured damages, including repairs to facilities used for literacy walks and Little Library “Las Bibliotequita.”
If you'd like your donation to go to a particular community, please consider giving directly to local partners:
- Florida Library Association is raising funds for Hurricane Relief Fund for Florida Libraries
- North Carolina School Library Media Association is raising funds for the NCSLMA Disaster Relief Fund
In areas where available, ALA's Disaster Relief Fund will contribute to state association funds to support relief in impacted communities.
March 2024: A deadly EF3 tornado ripped through Logan County Library, Ohio. The Lakeview branch of the Logan County Public Library was heavily damage losing parts of their collections and furnishings and the location become uninhabitable The ALA Disaster Fund provided $2,000 to purchase books, DVDs, library signage, rugs, wall art, and bean bag chairs in time for the re-opening in a new location on August 22, 2024
August 2023: Wildfires have destroyed houses and business throughout the island of Maui in Hawaii, including the Lahaina Public Library and King Kamehameha III Elementary School Library, which was extensively damaged by the fires. ALA supporters have provided $5,000 so far.
To donate to the ALA Disaster Relief Fund for Hawaii, please type "Hawaii" in the Tribute line at check out.
Learn more on how to support local libraries and groups from the Hawaii Library Association.
July 2023: Libraries across the state of Vermont faced historical levels of flooding. The catastrophic flooding impacted a large portion of downtown Montpelier including damage to Kellogg-Hubbard Library. ALA provided $5,000 to the Vermont Library Association which distributed the funds to impacted libraries.
March 2023: The EF4 tornado that decimated Rolling Forks, MS on Saturday, March 25, severely damaged the Sharkey-Issaquena County Library. The tornado also tore of part of the roof of the Amory Municipal Library. Both libraries are need support as they work to re-establish themselves to serve their communities. Sharkey-Issaquena County Library Amory Municipal Library
March 2023: Palmer Public Library in Alaska faced a roof collapse requiring a temporary library location. ALA's funding supported shelving and collections replacement. ALA provided $5000
October 2022: Florida in response to Hurricane Ian to be distributed by the Florida Library Association. ALA provided $1000.
September 2022: Letcher County Kentucky's Martha Jane Potter Elementary and West Whitesburg and Whitesburg Middle School libraries were flooded and lost collections. ALA provided $5000.
Resources for Libraries Facing A Disaster
American Library Association
ALA LibGuide on Library Disaster Preparedness and Response from the ALA Library.
Disasters strike every area of the country, and disasters do not spare libraries. Usually there is little or no warning, and the best defense is a plan for effective response. This LibGuide offers resources for libraries of all sizes and types. It contains information on organizations that can provide disaster assistance; disaster recovery resources available online; and a bibliography of print resources.
Beyond Words the Dollar General school library relief fund
Dollar General, in collaboration with the American Library Association (ALA), the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and the National Education Association (NEA), is sponsoring a school library disaster relief fund for public school libraries in the states served by Dollar General. The fund will provide grants to public schools whose school library program has been affected by a disaster. Grants are to replace or supplement books, media and/or library equipment in the school library setting.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Emergency Situations including Hurricanes
Library of Congress
Library of Congress Emergency Management, includes:
- Library of Congress What To Do If Collections Get Wet (response to floods and water damage for libraries, archives, museums; includes videos in English and Spanish)
- Cuidados de colecciones
- References
Smithsonian
- Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative (see its Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF) and Response and Recovery Resources)
- Archives and Preservation Resources Technical Information A Primer on Disaster Preparedness, Management and Response: Paper-Based Materials (1993; PDF)
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Hurricane Recovery Resources for Museums and Libraries
Other Resources
The Preservation Services department of the Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) provides free preservation advice to institutions and individuals worldwide. The Center provides Preservation Leaflets with information on a wide variety of preservation topics and links to additional resources, such as Preservation Assessment and Planning, Protection from Loss: Water and Fire Damage, Biological Agents, Theft, and Vandalism, Emergency Management Bibliography, Cleaning Books and Shelves, Care of Photographs, Repairing Paper Artifacts, Choosing and Working with a Conservator, and more.
DISASTR-OUTREACH-LIB Listserv is a discussion forum for librarians, information specialists, and other professionals interested in disaster health information outreach to their communities. As a participant in this listserv, you can stay informed about current disaster-related resources, connect to colleagues in the field, engage in information exchange and learn about new ideas, trends, training opportunities, and conferences in the area of disaster health information.
For a list of the news sources scanned for weekly news updates sent on this listserv, visit Disaster Information News Sources.
International Libraries
- To help international libraries, please contact the American Library Association International Relations Office at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 3201.
- Donate to ALA's Library Relief Efforts ALA Urges Library Supporters to Help Libraries Rebuild after disasters
Bibliography
Library as Safe Haven: Disaster Planning, Response, and Recovery; A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians by Deborah D. Halsted, Shari C. Clifton, and Daniel T. Wilson. Item Number: 978-1-55570-913-6
Let Us Know How We Can Help
If you think the American Library Association can help libraries affected by natural disasters (e.g., earthquake, tornado, fire, flood, hurricane) in any way toward recovery and relief, or if you have suggestions for emergency management resources and disaster preparedness, please contact the Chapter Relations Office: cro@ala.org
