Peggy Barber Tribute Grant

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 2024–2025 cycle, libraries are invited to submit applications to support programming related to combatting isolation for older adults. Remember: your proposal should be focused on a program that combats isolation for older adults (such as a technology training club to teach seniors how to use technology so that they can stay connected online or a social club to bring adults together around an activity like crafting, gardening, etc.)

Applications for the 2024-2025 cycle are closed. The next cycle will open December 2025. To be notified of this and other grant opportunities, please sign up for our ProgrammingLibrarian.org e-newsletter.

• Apply online
• Read the grant guidelines
• Review the frequently asked questions
• Master Grant Writing: 11 Tips for Success [PDF]
• Webinar: Tips for Getting an ALA Grant

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.

The 2025 Peggy Barber Tribute Grant is generously supported by The John A. Hartford Foundation, a private, nonpartisan, national philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults. A leader in the field of aging and health, the Foundation has three priority areas: creating age-friendly health systems, supporting family caregivers, and improving serious illness and end-of-life care. Learn more at www.johnahartford.org.

Make a donation to support the Peggy Barber Tribute Grant.

Past winners

• 2025: Falls City (Neb.) Library & Arts Center, Hartford (Mich.) Public Library and Pottsboro (Texas) Library (Read ALA's press release announcing the winners of the 2025 grant)
• 2024: Library System of Bradford County (New Albany, Penn.), Danbury (Conn.) Public Library and Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Libraries (Mount Pleasant, Mich.) (Read ALA's press release announcing the winners of the 2024 grant)
• 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)