Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (2026)
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- LB21-FY26
- Applications due
- Award size
- $25,000 to $1,000,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Categories
-
- Arts
- Humanities
- Eligible applicants
-
- Other
- Points of contact
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program, administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), seeks project proposals that recruit, develop, and retain a diverse workforce of library and archives professionals to strengthen institutional capacity and meet community information needs. Eligible applicants include libraries, academic institutions offering library science programs, digital archives, government library agencies, library consortia, associations, and nonprofit organizations affiliated with libraries located in the United States or U.S. territories. Projects must demonstrate broad impact across library and archives disciplines, reflect current practice and field priorities, employ inclusive outreach strategies, and generate measurable results addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Peer reviewers will evaluate applications based on project justification, work plan feasibility, staff qualifications, and expected results including dissemination and sustainability plans. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on March 13, 2026, through Grants.gov, with award notifications anticipated in August 2026.
The program anticipates distributing approximately $8.5 million across an estimated 35 grants, with funding ranges varying by project type: Planning and Forum projects ($75,000–$200,000), Community-Centered Implementation projects ($25,000–$100,000), National Implementation projects ($75,000–$1,000,000), and Early Career Research and Applied Research projects ($75,000–$750,000). Cost share requirements apply only to National Implementation projects requesting more than $299,999, which must provide at least a 1:1 match from non-federal sources. Project performance periods run from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2029, with activities conducted nationally across all eligible U.S. locations and territories.
Synopsis
Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian (LB21) projects build a library and archival workforce that can meet the information needs of communities and increase the institutional capacity of libraries, archives, and library and information science graduate programs across the country.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| fy26-ols-lb21-NOFO.pdf | ||
| fy26-ols-lb21-NOFO.pdf |
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