By Townhall Chicago News Staff
Penguin Random House and United for Libraries on Monday announced a 2027 grant program that will award $25,000 to rural and small libraries across the country, the Chicago-headquartered American Library Association (ALA) said.
Grants of $500 and $1,000 will support Friends of Library groups, the nonprofit organizations that fundraise and advocate for local libraries, with priority projects, according to the Oct. 20 announcement. An additional 20 libraries will receive in-kind book donation grants of $500 to purchase Penguin Random House titles.
“At Penguin Random House, we believe libraries need strong, reliable funding streams to serve their communities,” Skip Dye, senior vice president of institutional markets and digital strategy at Penguin Random House, said in the announcement. “What makes this partnership so valuable is that it goes beyond awarding grants. By giving Friends groups practical grant-writing expertise and skills, we’re helping them build the muscle to pursue new funding opportunities on their own.”
The program, which began in 2025, has provided 61 cash grants totaling $50,000 and 40 in-kind book donation grants totaling $20,000 to Friends of Library groups across 41 states and U.S. territories, according to the announcement.
Applications for the 2027 grants will be open from Dec. 8, 2026, through Jan. 25, 2027. Applicants will be notified by March 31, 2027.
United for Libraries, the ALA division whose full name is the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, will administer the grants. Its mission is to support those who govern, promote, advocate and fundraise for all types of libraries.
“Friends groups are core stakeholders in our libraries, inviting the community in and turning a shared love of libraries into meaningful support,” Lauren Trujillo, 2026-2028 United for Libraries president, said in the announcement. “Through fundraising, advocacy, and building connections, Friends help communities shape and sustain strong libraries.”
Trujillo said the grants, paired with training and resources from United for Libraries, “will help Friends serving small and rural communities welcome more people into this work and meet local needs.”
Beyond the grant money, recipients will receive complimentary e-learning from United for Libraries, including a year of access to webinars and training on how to leverage funds to build support for their library. Free virtual informational sessions for interested applicants are scheduled for December and January.
To be eligible, Friends groups must support a rural or small U.S. library with a legal service area population of 25,000 or fewer, located at least five miles outside a Census-defined urban area, according to program guidelines.
The ALA is headquartered at 225 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago and has advocated for libraries and literacy for 150 years. The organization marked its 150th anniversary earlier this month during Banned Books Week.
More information about the grant program and registration for informational sessions is available through the ALA’s website.
