Best Library Grants in South Carolina

Public library systems in South Carolina can apply for South Carolina State Library’s LSTA Impact Grants, awarding US $5,000 - US $50,000 for outcome-based projects. Funding can support preservation and digitization efforts or improve service to patrons with access difficulties through bookmobiles, outreach vehicles, or book lockers.

South Carolina K-12 public schools with existing libraries that suffered significant library damage from recent disasters can access funding through the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. Eligible schools must be within 15 miles of a Dollar General store or distribution center and use funds to restore books, media, and essential library equipment.

Dollar General Literacy Foundation supports family literacy programs in South Carolina by funding nonprofits, schools, colleges, and public libraries within 15 miles of a Dollar General store. Eligible organizations must offer adult education, children’s education, and parent-child together time and be listed in the National Literacy Directory; awards are up to US $10,000.

Grants support South Carolina libraries, schools, and nonprofits creating or expanding summer reading programs for Pre-K–12 students, including new, below-grade-level, and students with learning disabilities. Grants from Dollar General Literacy Foundation help eligible organizations within 15 miles of a Dollar General store in participating states with awards up to US $3,000.

South Carolina library-focused 501(c)(3) organizations seeking capital projects, endowments, or innovative equipment can access funding through the Gladys Brooks Foundation; awards range from US $50,000 - US $150,000. Eligible projects emphasize resource endowments, construction, or technology that expands public access to information, with limited outside funding and minimal overhead costs.

South Carolina school library associations that are AASL Chapters can access funding to plan and implement leadership development programs. Offered through the American Library Association, this grant supports initiatives that engage new members, train ongoing leaders, build school librarian leadership capacity, and foster collaboration, with awards up to US $1,750.

Certified public school librarians in the U.S. who run library services marketing campaigns can receive $1,000 travel support to the AASL National Conference, including those in South Carolina. The American Library Association offers this scholarship for librarians who have implemented “Strong School Libraries” public awareness campaigns and are willing to present and share their work professionally.

South Carolina library researchers and scholars needing access to East Asian collections can apply for Harvard University's Harvard-Yenching Library Travel Grant, which provides US $2,000 for travel to use its library resources. Eligible applicants include non-tenured faculty, dissertation-writing Ph.D. candidates (ABDs), and independent scholars, with priority for institutions lacking major East Asian language collections.

South Carolina rural public libraries with limited budgets rebuilding children’s departments after natural disasters can access funding through the Pilcrow Foundation’s Disaster Relief Grant. Eligible U.S. libraries receive US $800 in in-kind support as new, quality, hardcover children’s books selected from the foundation’s approved list, with no local matching funds required.

With a mission to support library resource guides, American Library Association provides South Carolina library professionals and organizations with funding to develop reading lists, webliographies, indexes, and similar tools. Projects must focus on American libraries, stimulate use of library resources, be intended for national distribution, and may receive up to US $5,000 for preparation and research costs.

Focused on library services, the American Library Association invites South Carolina librarians who work with teens to apply for professional development support to attend the ALA Annual Conference. Eligible applicants are current ALA/YALSA personal members in the U.S. with 1–10 years’ teen services experience and no prior Annual Conference attendance, with $1,000 awards available.

Black/African American youth or teen services public or school librarians, including those serving South Carolina, can receive travel support to attend the ALA Annual Conference. With a mission to support library services, American Library Association provides up to US $3,000 for travel, housing, registration, and a Coretta Scott King Awards Breakfast ticket.

Rural and small library staff in South Carolina who hold CHIS Level 1 or 2 and are affiliated with an NNLM member organization can apply for National Network of Libraries of Medicine’s US $300 professional development award. Funding supports delivering NNLM CHIS health information classes to local library or association audiences across the U.S.

South Carolina library and archives organizations can access funding through the Institute of Museum and Library Services to plan workforce development and capacity-building projects. This national program offers US $75,000 - US $200,000 for 1–2 year planning efforts such as needs assessments, partnership development, curricula design, and pilot studies that prepare for future implementation or research.

Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program

Program Overview:

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.  

The program supports projects that:  

• provide training and professional development to library and archives professionals;  
• develop faculty and information leaders; and 
• recruit, educate, and retain the next generation of library and archives professionals. 

Projects can support the recruitment, education, training, and retention of pre-professionals, students, faculty, and the current library and archives workforce. 

Project Type

Forum:

Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program

Program Overview:

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.  

The program supports projects that:  

• provide training and professional development to library and archives professionals;  
• develop faculty and information leaders; and 
• recruit, educate, and retain the next generation of library and archives professionals. 

Projects can support the recruitment, education, training, and retention of pre-professionals, students, faculty, and the current library and archives workforce. 

Project Type

Community-Centered Implementation

Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program

Program Overview:

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.  

The program supports projects that:  

• provide training and professional development to library and archives professionals;  
• develop faculty and information leaders; and 
• recruit, educate, and retain the next generation of library and archives professionals. 

Projects can support the recruitment, education, training, and retention of pre-professionals, students, faculty, and the current library and archives workforce. 

Project Type

National Implementation

Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program

Program Overview:

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.  

The program supports projects that:  

• provide training and professional development to library and archives professionals;  
• develop faculty and information leaders; and 
• recruit, educate, and retain the next generation of library and archives professionals. 

Projects can support the recruitment, education, training, and retention of pre-professionals, students, faculty, and the current library and archives workforce. 

Project Type

Early Career Research

Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program

Program Overview:

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.  

The program supports projects that:  

• provide training and professional development to library and archives professionals;  
• develop faculty and information leaders; and 
• recruit, educate, and retain the next generation of library and archives professionals. 

Projects can support the recruitment, education, training, and retention of pre-professionals, students, faculty, and the current library and archives workforce. 

Project Type

Applied Research

South Carolina library systems, health sciences libraries, and information organizations working in health information services can access funding through the National Institutes of Health to serve as Regional Medical Libraries. Awards up to US $600,000 support biomedical health information dissemination, data literacy, professional development for librarians, and outreach that expands public engagement with NIH and National Library of Medicine resources nationwide.

Libraries, information centers, and related organizations developing biomedical and health information training programs in the U.S. and territories, including South Carolina, can apply for up to US $750,000 to serve as the Network Training Center. US Dept. of Health & Human Services: National Institutes of Health supports curricula development, instructional design, and delivery of NNLM-wide training.

Focused on health information access, this opportunity invites South Carolina library and information organizations to coordinate the Network of the National Library of Medicine. Eligible institutions can apply for up to US $1,500,000 to manage network-wide administration, evaluation, communication, and training support through the National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine program.

In collaboration with Cummins Inc., the American Library Association (ALA) invites applications from U.S. public libraries to participate in A Year of STEM, 12 months of curated STEM programming to foster curiosity and STEM-mindedness in early childhood learners across the country. 

Twenty-five libraries will be chosen to participate in A Year of STEM, receiving professional development to prepare them for the project, copies of a newly created A Year of STEM programming guide developed by librarian advisors, a $5,000 programming stipend, four STEM kits (to be delivered quarterly), and support from ALA’s Public Programs Office staff throughout the project implementation period.

The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust Grant supports educational programs and initiatives that assist individuals demonstrating financial need. Founded in 1975, it prioritizes funding for organizations that enhance educational opportunities, arts, culture, and community initiatives, particularly for youth and disadvantaged populations. The Trust encourages proposals from 501(c)(3) organizations, with grants typically ranging from $10,000 to $20,000. It also considers limited proposals in disabilities, environmental protection, and historic preservation, focusing on educational impact.

Broadening Narratives

Broadening Narratives supports diverse stories and collections that expand our understanding of who we are. ​

Our Vision for Broadening Narratives

We work to ensure that those whose stories are being told through collections are included in the decisions about how those stories are told. We seek to broaden the kinds of narratives being told, particularly stories that have never been told, or have been told incompletely or inaccurately.  

This includes stories from culturally specific communities including people of color, LGBTQ+ perspectives, working-class experiences, and small community stories.

We support collections that tell stories that have not been told, have been told incompletely, or have been told inaccurately. We require that those whose stories are being told be included in the decision-making process.

What is broadening narratives?

Why collections? And what do you mean by “Broadening Narratives”? What drove this change in strategy and approach to your collections work? ​

Read this answer and more here.

The Corning Nonprofit Grants program supports community-based initiatives in education, human services, and culture. Eligible nonprofits that align with our criteria may apply for funding on a rolling basis. The application window for invited organizations runs from February 10 to September 15. We emphasize local impact within a 20-mile radius of Corning, NY, ensuring that our contributions foster collective growth and engagement in the community.

The National Home Library Foundation Grant supports nonprofits in distributing books and reading materials to libraries and community groups with limited resources. This initiative aims to promote literacy and combat illiteracy among all ages through various programs. Grants are available only to tax-exempt organizations that adhere to non-discrimination policies. Preference is given to requests from the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas, with applications considered on a rolling basis.