U.S. Library Grants

Penguin Random House and United for Libraries announced a new grant program serving rural and small libraries across the country. Grants of $500 and $1,000 (totaling $25,000), will be awarded to support libraries in need. Specifically, grant funds will assist Friends of Library groups, or nonprofit groups that support and fundraise for libraries in their communities, with priority projects.  The grant funds will support specific projects designated by the Friends group. In-kind book donation grants of $500 will also be awarded to 20 libraries to purchase Penguin Random House titles.

The launch of this program comes at a pivotal time for libraries nationwide. As the freedom to read faces growing threats through book bans and censorship efforts, public libraries, especially in rural areas—need additional resources and advocacy support. According to the American Library Association, 2024 saw 821 attempts to censor books and materials, marking the third-highest number of book challenges since tracking began in 1990.

Applications open December 17, 2025, and close January 21, 2026. Recipients will be notified by March 30, 2026.

Recipients of a $500 or $1,000 grant will also receive complimentary eLearning from United for Libraries, including a year of access to United for Libraries Learning Live monthly webinars which present in-depth training to library Trustees/Board Members, Friends, Foundations, advocates, and those who work with them, and training on how to leverage the grant funds to build support for the library and the Friends group.

For more information about the library grant program, visit www.ala.org/united/prhgrant.