The Libri Foundation

BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
Grant Application Guidelines

Libraries are qualified on an individual basis. In general, county libraries should serve a population under 16,000 and town libraries should serve a population under 10,000 (usually under 5,000). Libraries should be in a rural area, have a limited operating budget, and an active children's department. Please note: Rural is usually considered to be at least 30 miles from a city with a population over 40,000.

Applications are accepted from independent libraries as well as libraries which are part of a county, regional, or cooperative library system. A library system may also apply if all the libraries in the system meet these requirements.

Applications are accepted from school libraries only if they also serve as the public library (i.e. it is open to everyone in the community, has some summer hours, and there is no public library in town).

A branch library may apply if the community it is in meets the definition of rural. If the branch library receives its funding from its parent institution, then the parent institution's total operating budget, not just the branch library's total operating budget, must meet the budget restrictions. Please note: Town libraries with total operating budgets over $150,000 and county libraries with total operating budgets over $350,000 are rarely given grants. The average total operating budget of a BOOKS FOR CHILDREN grant recipient is less than $40,000.

BOOKS FOR CHILDREN grant recipients that have fulfilled all grant requirements, including the final report, may apply for another grant three years after the receipt of their previous grant. Grant recipients that do not fulfill all the grant requirements, including the final report, are not eligible for another grant.

There are three ways to obtain a grant application from The Libri Foundation:

• Read the application instructions and fill out the form online. The form must be printed out, signed, and returned to The Libri Foundation via mail.
• Link to an Adobe Acrobat PDF version of the form to print out and complete by hand or using a typewriter.
• To receive a paper application in the mail, please email your name and your library's name and mailing address to The Libri Foundation at . You may also request an application packet by mail, telephone, or fax at the address or phone numbers given on the Libri Foundation home page.

Grants are awarded three times a year. Application deadlines are: (postmarked by) January 15th, April 15th, and August 15th. Grants are awarded January 31st, April 30th, and August 31st.

If you want your books in time for your summer reading program, please apply for a January grant. April grant recipients may not receive their books until after most summer reading programs begin.

NOTE: DO NOT waste money sending your application by Express Mail. The application deadline is based on postmark date, not arrival date.

LIBRARIES AFFECTED BY HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA: CLICK HERE

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