Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Services

The Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Services programs (NANH-L) are designed to assist Native American tribes and Native Hawaiians in improving core library services for their communities. NANH-L Basic Grants assists eligible Native Comm

Native American Library Services Basic Grants focus on improving services for learning and accessing information in a variety of formats and on enhancing the skills of the current library workforce and leadership through training, continuing education, and opportunities for professional development. Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants and Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants focus on improving digital services, improving educational programs, and enhancing the preservation and revitalization of Native American and Native Hawaiian cultures and languages.

An applicant to Native American Library Services Basic or Enhancement grant program must be an Indian tribe, meaning any tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska native village, regional corporation, or village, which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians. An applicant to Native Hawaiian Library Services must be a nonprofit organization that primarily serves and represents Native Hawaiians. The term "Native Hawaiian" refers to an individual who is a citizen of the United States and a descendant of the aboriginal people who, before 1778, occupied and exercised sovereignty in the area that now comprises the State of Hawaii.

Grant funds must be used for the purposes outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity, and in accordance with the Institute of Museum and Library Services General Terms and Conditions. Examples of allowable costs for Native American Library Services Basic Grants include salaries, wages, and fringe benefits; travel expenses; training, workshop, and/or conference registration fees; supplies, materials, software, and equipment related directly to library services; adaptive/assistive technologies and other resources to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities; contract services; after-school tutoring services; internet access; fees for participation in networks and consortia that provide the library with direct services. Examples of allowable costs for Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants and Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants include personnel salaries, wages, and fringe benefits; travel expenses for key project staff and consultants; materials, supplies, software, and equipment related directly to project activities; adaptive and/or assistive technologies and other resources and services to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities; equipment to improve collections storage and exhibit environments; third-party costs; publication design and printing; staff and volunteer training; paid internships/fellowships; and indirect or overhead costs.

Unallowable costs include general fundraising costs, such as development office staff or other staff time devoted to general fundraising, contributions to endowments, general operating support, acquisition of collections, general advertising or public relations costs designed solely for promotional activities other than those related to the specific project, construction or renovation of facilities (generally, any activity involving the construction trades is not an allowable cost), social activities, receptions, or entertainment, and research projects.

Native American Library Services Basic Grants: Projects must begin on August 1, 2025, and project activities may be carried out for one year. Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants: Projects must begin on September 1, 2025, and project activities may be carried out for one to two years. Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants: Projects must begin on September 1, 2025, and project activities may be carried out for one to two years.

Native American Library Services Basic Grants are non-competitive awards available to eligible applicants. Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants and Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants are competitive grant programs. Successful proposals in these grant programs are structured to result in improved digital services, improved educational programs related to specific topics and content areas of interest to library patrons and community-based users; and enhanced preservation and revitalization of Native American and Native Hawaiian cultures and languages.

Native American Library Services Basic Grants are non-competitive awards available to eligible applicants to support existing library operations and to maintain core library services. IMLS makes awards to eligible applicants that submit complete applications, including attachments, through Grants.gov, on or before the deadline. Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants and Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants use a peer review process. Peer reviewers evaluate all eligible and complete applications according to the review criteria listed in the NOFO. Reviewers are professionals in the field with relevant knowledge and expertise in the types of project activities identified in the applications. Peer reviewers must comply with IMLS's Federal ethics and conflicts of interest requirements. The IMLS Director makes final funding decisions consistent with the purposes of the agency's mission and programs.

Native American Library Services Basic Grants: IMLS will notify both successful and unsuccessful applicants of funding decisions by email in July 2026. Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants and Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants: IMLS will not release information about the status of an application until the applications have been reviewed and all deliberations are concluded. IMLS expects to notify both successful and unsuccessful applicants of the final decisions by email in September 2026.

IMLS may extend particular grants at the discretion of the Director. Awardees may request no-cost extensions of up to a year.

Native American Library Services Basic Grants: IMLS invites unsuccessful applicants to consult with IMLS staff about their applications. Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants and Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants: IMLS provides copies of reviewer comments and scores to all unsuccessful applicants and invites them to consult with specific IMLS staff when determining whether to revise the proposal and submit it again to IMLS or another funding agency.