The Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant is an annual grant to recognize, promote, and support innovative and meaningful community engagement efforts in libraries. Community engagement is the process of working collaboratively with community members – be they library patrons, residents, faculty, students, or local organizations – to address issues for the betterment of the community.
Each year, the grant will focus on supporting a community engagement project with a specific theme. For the 2023-2024 cycle, libraries are invited to submit applications for a community engagement project that focuses on community empowerment. This is the process of facilitating a populace to build capacity and collaborate to make important decisions about their communities.
Some example proposals could include (but are not limited to):
- a project that brings people together to discuss the local economy and works to increase resources to support entrepreneurism based on the needs identified;
- a program that collaborates with a local partner to increase civic participation to help strengthen the community;
- projects that work with formerly incarcerated individuals to create better avenues for reentry;
- a project empowering individuals to celebrate and exercise intellectual freedom.
Libraries should work collaboratively with community members and at least one partner organization to develop a project that addresses a local issue and builds upon community assets. Please note that, while projects should be community-driven, they must be spearheaded by the library.
Applications for the 2022-2023 cycle are now closed. The next round of applications will open on December 1, 2023. To receive notice of this and other grant opportunities, please subscribe to our Programming Librarian e-newsletter.
The Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant was made possible by former ALA president and longtime generous supporter Nancy Kranich, with additional contributions raised by solicitations and a matching opportunity in 2017.
Past Winners
- 2023
- Carlsbad (N.M.) Public Library - Adult Literacy Project (Read ALA's press release announcing the 2023 LTC Engagement Grant awardees)
- Lexington (Neb.) Public Library - Early Childhood Educator Work Center (Read ALA's press release announcing the 2023 LTC Engagement Grant awardees)
- 2022:
- Metropolitan College of New York (N.Y.) - Black Maternal Health Initiative (Read ALA's press release announcing the 2022 LTC Engagement Grant awardees)
- Sara Hightower Regional Library System (Ga.) - Coming Home: Essential Resources for Re-Entering Citizens (Read ALA's press release announcing the 2022 LTC Engagement Grant awardees)
- 2021: Albany (N.Y.) Public Library - Branching Out (Read ALA's press release announcing the 2021 LTC Engagement Grant awardee, Albany Public Library)
- 2020: Milwaukee (Wis.) Public Library - Deaf Storyslam (Learn about the 2020 LTC Engagement Grant awardee, Milwaukee Public Library, and their project, Deaf Storyslam)