Boise public library in idaho will plan to develop a replicable national model for public libraries to strengthen teen belonging and improve access to behavioral health resources

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded the City of Boise $397,900 on September 1, 2026, under the National Leadership Grants program (CFDA 45.312) to plan development of a replicable national model positioning public libraries as youth-centered wellness hubs.

Boise Public Library will conduct youth-centered research, trauma-informed design, and public-sector planning in collaboration with library staff and community health and youth-serving partners to produce a scalable Youth Library Wellness Hub Framework. Deliverables include teen space design standards, behavioral health navigation strategies, and access assessment tools intended for adoption by public libraries nationwide. The project responds to documented declines in teen library participation during adolescence, rising behavioral health needs, and structural barriers including transportation, language, and neighborhood disparities.

Work will be performed in Boise, Idaho, with a period of performance running through August 31, 2028. This is a project grant, a form of assistance funding under which the recipient develops models, tools, research findings, or practices with potential for wide use, adaptation, scaling, or replication across the library profession.

The plan is to develop a replicable national model positioning public libraries as youth-centered wellness hubs. This project responds to documented declines in teen library participation during adolescence, rising behavioral health needs, and structural barriers to access including transportation, language, and neighborhood disparities. The project will focus on youth-centered research, trauma-informed design, and public-sector planning to conduct technical analyses and prepare planning deliverables in collaboration with library staff and community health and youth-serving partners. The intended result is a scalable youth library wellness hub framework, including teen space design standards, behavioral health navigation strategies, and access assessment tools that can be adopted by public libraries nationwide to strengthen teen belonging and community wellbeing.