Ronda Hughes, Library Media Specialist at Fountain Lake School District

"She has received Leadership recognition in other organizations; she is President-Elect and Conference Chair for AAIM and received the state Alpha Delta Kappa Excellence in Education Award. She spearheaded a county reading program that resulted in 3 school libraries having book mobiles .” – Rachel Shankles

ALA COVID Library Relief Fund

5 May 2021

The ALA COVID Library Relief Fund  deadline for applicant submissions is May 20, 2021.

Public, school, academic, and tribal libraries across the United States and US Territories that are experiencing substantial economic hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has impacted their ability to serve their community, especially traditionally underserved populations are encouraged to apply.

The Fund has 1.25 million dollars and will provide grants between $30,000 and $50,0000 to libraries/library systems/districts that have seen a substantial reduction in funding that impacts their ability to provide essential services to underserved populations in low to moderate income groups.

Grants will be announced on June 23, 2021.

The grant funds are to support libraries through December 31, 2021. Grants are to help support library operations, including but not limited to staff time, collections, technology, equipment. Grants are to re-stablish, sustain, amplify, or create new needed services, to underserved target audience(s).

Library systems (municipal, county, district) and library school districts can submit only one application per system or district, but the application can request support for one or more library and /or one or more target audience across your system or district.

The ALA COVID Library Relief Fund is generously supported by Acton Family Giving as part of its pandemic responsive grant making. Initial seed funding was provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation as part of its efforts to bolster educational and cultural organizations devastated by the economic fallout out from COVID-19.

The ALA COVID Library Relief Fund Information Session | Watch the recording

Questions? please contact cro@ala.org

Applications Open for FTRF Banned Books Week Celebration Grants

5 May 2021

Each year the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) distributes grants to support activities that raise awareness of intellectual freedom and censorship issues during the annual Banned Books Week celebration. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us.” Banned Books Week runs from Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2021 and the grants of $1,000 or $2,500 are offered through the Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund. 

Application deadline is June 4.

Create an exciting program, host a community conversation, or create an eye-catching display celebrating the freedom to read! Staff at all types of libraries, schools, universities, and non-profit community organizations are encouraged to apply. Because of COVID-19, and our understanding that not everyone is working in person, we welcome entries for virtual projects this year.

To see projects from past recipients and to apply, please visit the FTRF Grants webpage. The application deadline is June 4, 2021, and recipients will be announced the week of June 14, 2021.To be eligible for a grant, organizations must not have been a recipient of an FTRF grant within the past five years. Grantees are encouraged to share their events on social media and with the press. A follow-up report detailing expenditures, numbers of participants, links to press coverage and a narrative of the event is due within six weeks of the Banned Books Week celebration.

Applications are graded on use of budget, promotional plan, imagination, and schedule/action plan.  Click here for an application.

FTRF Founder Judith F. Krug was a fierce proponent of education and intellectual freedom.  During Krug’s lengthy career she worked non-stop to prevent censorship and protect First Amendment rights.  Librarians and intellectual freedom advocates have an opportunity to continue this work and stand up for the First Amendment by providing innovative, educational, and often fun programming to highlight Banned Books Week.

Visit the Freedom to Read Foundation online to apply and learn more about past recipients and their projects.  Deadline: June 4, 2021.  Contact Joyce Hagen-McIntosh at jmcintosh@ala.orgwith questions.