Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Services

The Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Services programs (NANH-L) are designed to assist Native American tribes and Native Hawaiians in improving core library services for their communities.

NANH-L Basic Grants assists eligible Native Communities in
establishing, sustaining, and improving library services and operations with their communities. NANH-L Basic Grants has one program goal and four objectives. Program Goal: Improve library and archival services for accessing, learning, and preserving information with the community. Objective 1: Support the acquisition of library-related materials. Objective 2: Support programming for identified community priorities. Objective 3: Support training for library staff. Objective 4: Support project activities that include aspects of two or more of the objectives listed above.

NANH-L Enhancement Grants assists eligible Native Communities in sustaining and improving library services with their communities. NANH-L Enhancement Grants has one program goal with four associated objectives. Program Goal: Develop, enhance, or disseminate practices, programs, models, tools, or library staff training to strengthen library and archival services for Native American Tribes. Objective 1: Serve the learning needs and interests of the community. Objective 2: Improve community well-being. Objective 3: Provide access to and preservation of information and collections. Objective 4: Provide services to affected communities in the event of an emergency or disaster.

The Native Hawaiian Library Services Grant (NH) is designed to assist Native Hawaiian serving organizations in sustaining and improving library services with their communities. NH has one goal with four associated objectives. Program Goal: Develop, enhance, or disseminate practices, programs, models, tools, or staff training to strengthen library and archival services with Native Hawaiian organizations. Objective 1: Serve the learning needs and interests of the community. Objective 2: Improve Native Hawaiian well-being. Objective 3: Provide access to and preservation of information and collections. Objective 4: Provide services to affected communities in the event of an emergency or disaster.

An applicant to Native American Library Services Basic or Enhancement grant program must be an Indian tribe, meaning any tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska native village, regional corporation, or village, which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.
An applicant to Native Hawaiian Library Services must be a nonprofit organization that primarily serves and represents Native Hawaiians. The term "Native Hawaiian" refers to an individual who is a citizen of the United States and a descendant of the aboriginal people who, before 1778, occupied and exercised sovereignty in the area that now comprises the State of Hawaii.

Native American Library Services Basic Grants are non-competitive awards available to eligible applicants to support existing library operations and to maintain core library services. IMLS makes awards to eligible applicants that submit complete applications, including attachments, through Grants.gov, on or before the deadline.

Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants and Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants use a peer review process. Peer reviewers evaluate all eligible and complete applications according to the review criteria listed in the NOFO. Reviewers are professionals in the field with relevant knowledge and expertise in the types of project activities identified in the applications. Peer reviewers must comply with IMLS’s Federal ethics and conflicts of interest requirements.

The IMLS Director makes final funding decisions consistent with the purposes of the agency’s mission and programs.

Native American Library Services Basic Grants: IMLS will notify both successful and unsuccessful applicants of funding decisions by email in July 2026.

Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants and Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants: IMLS will not release information about the status of an application until the applications have been reviewed and all deliberations are concluded. IMLS expects to notify both successful and unsuccessful applicants of the final decisions by email in September 2026.