The Peggy Barber Tribute Grant is an annual grant of the American Library Association (ALA) that recognizes, promotes, and supports meaningful programs in libraries that have limited and/or no access to budgetary support for programming.
The grant, named after the late library leader Peggy Barber, aims to help ease library budget challenges by awarding three libraries $2,500 to support a proposed program, program series, or programming effort.
Each year, the grant will focus on supporting a specific type of library programming. For the 2022–2023 cycle, libraries are invited to submit applications for a grant to support programming related to increasing access for groups that are identified as underserved or new library users in the community. Some example proposals could include: 1) a program to increase access to library resources for homebound seniors, 2) a program that builds kits for patrons re-entering society so they can more easily learn about and access local resources, or 3) a program focused on media literacy that helps people learn how to access accurate and important information.
Applications for the 2022-2023 cycle are now closed. The next round of applications will open in December 2023. To receive notice of this and other grant opportunities, please subscribe to our Programming Librarian e-newsletter.
Margaret "Peggy" Barber was a transformative leader in ALA and the library field who was behind the creation of National Library Week and the Celebrity READ series. Read Library Journal's tribute.
After she passed away in September 2019, Barber's friends and colleagues created the Peggy Barber Tribute Fund within ALA's Cultural Communities Fund, which recognizes and funds outstanding cultural programming in libraries. These generous supporters have made this annual grant possible.
Make a donation to support the Peggy Barber Tribute Grant.
Past winners
- 2023: Brookings (S.D.) Public Library, Gill Memorial Library (Paulsboro, N.J.) and Mount Kisco (N.Y.) Public Library. (Read ALA's press release announcing the winners of the 2023 grant)
- 2022: Aztlán Center at Colorado State University (CSU) Pueblo Library, Highgate (Vt.) Library and Community Center, Udall (Kan.) Public Library. (Read ALA's press release announcing the winners of the 2022 grant)
- 2021: Harrison (N.Y.) Public Library, Montana Department of Corrections’ Library, West Liberty (Iowa) Library (Read ALA's press release announcing the winners of the 2021 grant)