The catawba library in rock hill, south carolina will establish the catawba nation little free libraries project

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded the Catawba Indian Nation $200,000 on September 1, 2026, under the National Leadership Grants program (CFDA 45.312) to establish the Catawba Nation Little Free Libraries Project in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

The recipient will build, install, and maintain five no-cost book-sharing boxes on the Catawba Reservation to improve literacy rates among tribal citizens, especially children, by increasing access to books and strengthening community engagement. Box locations will include the Nation's Head Start, Teen Center, Senior Center, and two additional high-traffic locations identified based on community need. Each little free library will function as a community-based literacy hub offering rotating collections of books for children, youth, and adults, including Native-authored and culturally relevant materials. Primary deliverables include installation and stewardship of the book-sharing boxes, distribution of culturally relevant and Native-authored books, and development of a community-informed evaluation process to track reading engagement and community impact.

Performance runs through August 31, 2028.

The project will build, install and maintain five no-cost book-sharing boxes to improve literacy rates among tribal citizens, especially children, by increasing access to books, fostering and strengthening a sense of community, and driving greater visitor traffic to the catawba tribal library. Box locations on the catawba reservation will include the nation's head start, teen center, senior center, and two additional high-traffic, high-visibility locations to be identified based on community need. Each little free library will function as a community- based literacy hub, offering a rotating supply of books for children, youth, and adults, including native-authored and culturally relevant materials. Primary project deliverables include the installation and stewardship of multiple little free library book-sharing boxes on the catawba reservation, the distribution of culturally relevant and native-authored books for children, youth, and adults, and the development of a community-informed evaluation process to track reading engagement and community impact.