United for Libraries and Penguin Random House will award grants of $500 and $1,000 (totaling $25,000) to support libraries in need. Specifically, grant funds will assist Friends of Library groups with priority projects. Additionally, in-kind book donation grants of $500 will be awarded to 20 libraries to purchase Penguin Random House titles.
To be eligible for a cash or in-kind grant, Friends groups must be in support of a rural/small U.S. library in the 50 states, District of Columbia, or U.S. territories (Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) with a legal service area population of 25,000 or less, and in any area 5+ miles outside of a U.S. Census defined urban area (as defined by the Institute of Museum and Library Services IMLS). A library that meets the same eligibility and is able to demonstrate it has started the process of forming a Friends group will also be eligible.
Grants will be administered by United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, whose mission is to support those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for all types of libraries. Grant funding is provided by Penguin Random House.
Applications for the program will be open from Dec. 17, 2025-Jan. 21, 2026, and applicants will be notified by March 30, 2026. For libraries that are interested in applying but don’t know where to start, United for Libraries will present free virtual informational sessions beginning in December, including two 30-minute sessions that include an overview of the process and tips on applying, and a one-hour webinar featuring 2025 grant recipients and their projects. On-demand training includes a session on grant writing basics, and a session on how to start a Friends of the Library group (for libraries that do not currently have an active group); learn more and register.