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CHICAGO — The ¾«¶«´«Ã½ (ALA) invites applications from small and rural libraries for the third round of funding of the Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Accessible Small and Rural Communities grant. The initiative will offer 3.5 million in grants to small and rural libraries to increase the accessibility of facilities, services and programs to better serve people with disabilities.

In February 2024, ¾«¶«´«Ã½announced it received an additional $10 million dollars in support of the LTC: Accessible Small and Rural Communities initiative. A substantial portion of the funding – $7 million – will be distributed in grants of $10,000 and $20,000 to small and rural libraries.

Library workers may now apply online for funding from September 11, 2024, to December 11, 2024, at ala.org/LTCAccess. Up to 300 libraries will be awarded in this application period. Previous awardees from round one and/or two are eligible to apply. Note that prioritization will be given to applicants not previously awarded.

Interested applicants can on October 10, 2024 at 12:00 pm CST.

In March 2024, ¾«¶«´«Ã½announced 310 libraries selected for round two funding, bringing the total number of funded libraries to 465, representing 46 U.S. states and the Northern Mariana Islands. View the full list of grantees awarded.

Libraries selected for round three will receive $10,000 or $20,000 to support costs related to their community engagement project; virtual training to assist project directors in developing their community engagement, facilitation, and disability service skills; a suite of online resources developed to support local programs; and technical and project support from the ¾«¶«´«Ã½Public Programs Office throughout the grant term.

Libraries chosen to participate in LTC: Accessible Small and Rural Communities will first conduct community input-gathering sessions to assure that their work aligns with local disability community needs. Libraries will be required to identify the primary audience they are hoping to reach (e.g., older adults with mobility disabilities, children with autism, Deaf community members) and facilitate a community conversation with the impacted patron group to guide improvement of the library’s services. Grantees will then use the grant funds to create services or improve their facilities based on the needs identified by their audience.

Applicants are advised to review the full project guidelines and look through application resources including successful application examples from previous rounds.

The opportunity is open to libraries serving small and rural communities in the U.S. and U.S. territories. To be eligible, a library must be located in an area that’s more than, or equal to, five miles from an urbanized area and with a population of 25,000 or less, in keeping with Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) definitions of small and rural libraries.

Since 2014, ¾«¶«´«Ã½has distributed Libraries Transforming Communities funding to foster community engagement skills among library workers and support need-driven projects. Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities is part of ALA’s longtime commitment to preparing library workers for the expanding role of libraries. The initiative is offered in partnership with the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL). It is supported by a private donor.

About the ¾«¶«´«Ã½

The ¾«¶«´«Ã½ (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ¾«¶«´«Ã½has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit .

About the ¾«¶«´«Ã½Public Programs Office

The ¾«¶«´«Ã½Public Programs Office empowers libraries to create vibrant hubs of learning, conversation and connection in communities of all types. Learn more at .

About the Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services

The ¾«¶«´«Ã½Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services supports library and information science workers in creating responsible and all-inclusive spaces that serve and represent the entire community. Learn more at .

About the Association for Rural & Small Libraries

ARSL builds strong communities through advocacy, professional development, and elevating the impact of rural and small libraries. As the premier organization representing rural and small libraries, ARSL recognizes the uniqueness of this constituency and is committed to providing an environment that encourages service excellence within our community of practice.