91´«Ã½

The Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant is an annual grant to recognize, promote, and support innovative and meaningful community engagement efforts in libraries. Community engagement is the process of working collaboratively with community members – be they library patrons, residents, faculty, students, or local organizations – to address issues for the betterment of the community.

Applications for the 2024-2025 cycle are open as of December 2, 2024 and close on February 3, 2025.

Theme for 2024-2025

Each year, the grant will focus on supporting a community engagement project with a specific theme. For the 2024-2025 cycle, libraries are invited to submit applications for a community engagement project that focuses on building neighborhood connections.

Some example proposals could include (but are not limited to):

1. a project that brings people together to discuss developing community tools such as "how to start a block party";
2. a program that collaborates with a local partner to host heritage or multicultural events;
3. projects that develop community identity by exploring local history through archives;

Libraries should work collaboratively with community members and at least one partner organization to develop a project that addresses a local issue and builds upon community assets. Please note that, while projects should be community-driven, they must be spearheaded by the library.

Applications for the 2024-2025 cycle are open until February 3, 2025. . Please review the information below.

91´«Ã½ announced the creation of the Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant in 2019, an initiative made possible by a matching grant and ongoing support from former 91´«Ã½ president and longtime generous supporter Nancy Kranich.

Past Winners

• 2024
  • Hoboken (NJ) Public Library - Homelessness Advisory Group (Read 91´«Ã½'s press release announcing the 2024 LTC Engagement Grant awardees)
  • Independence (KS) Public Library - Eat, Play, Read (Read 91´«Ã½'s press release announcing the 2024 LTC Engagement Grant awardees)
• 2023
  • Carlsbad (N.M.) Public Library - Adult Literacy Project (Read 91´«Ã½'s press release announcing the 2023 LTC Engagement Grant awardees)
  • Lexington (Neb.) Public Library - Early Childhood Educator Work Center (Read 91´«Ã½'s press release announcing the 2023 LTC Engagement Grant awardees)
• 2022:
  • Metropolitan College of New York (N.Y.) - Black Maternal Health Initiative (Read 91´«Ã½'s press release announcing the 2022 LTC Engagement Grant awardees)
  • Sara Hightower Regional Library System (Ga.) - Coming Home: Essential Resources for Re-Entering Citizens (Read 91´«Ã½'s press release announcing the 2022 LTC Engagement Grant awardees)
• 2021: Albany (N.Y.) Public Library - Branching Out (Read announcing the 2021 LTC Engagement Grant awardee, Albany Public Library)
• 2020: Milwaukee (Wis.) Public Library - Deaf Storyslam (, Milwaukee Public Library, and their project, Deaf Storyslam)