Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Program Objective
The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian (LB21) grant progam supports the recruitment, development, and retention of library and archives professionals to meet the information needs of their communities. GOAL 1: Recruit and educate future library and archives professionals, faculty, and staff. Obj. 1.1: Develop or enhance practices, programs, or initiatives encouraging students to pursue careers in library and information science. Obj. 1.2: Develop or enhance initiatives, programs, or curricula to increase to increase the capacity of institutions to educate or retain library and information science students. GOAL 2: Train and retain current library and archives professionals, faculty, and staff. Obj. 2.1: Develop or enhance professional development and training programs to enable the library and archival workforce to meet the needs of their communities. Obj. 2.2: Support the research of untenured, tenure-track library and information science faculty, furthering the faculty member’s long-term research agenda, career trajectory, and professional development.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- U.S. State Government
- U.S. Territory Government
- Department/Agency of U.S. State
- Department/Agency of U.S. Territorial Gov
- Federally Recognized Tribal Government
- Municipality/Township Government
- County Government
- Local Government Consortium
- Local
- State
- Tribal
- Nonprofit Organization
- Not-for-Profit Organization
An applicant must meet geographic and governance criteria and qualify as one of the following six types of organizations:
1. A library or a parent organization, such as a school district, a municipality, a State agency, or an academic institution, that is responsible for the administration of a library;
2. An academic or administrative unit, such as a graduate school of library and information science that is part of an institution of higher education through which it would apply;
3. A digital library or archives, if it makes materials publicly available and provides library or archival services, including selection, organization, description, reference, and preservation, under the supervision of at least one permanent professional staff librarian/archivist;
4. A library or archival agency that is an official agency of a State, tribal, or other unit of government and is charged by the law governing it with the extension and development of public library services within its jurisdiction;
5. A library or archives consortium that is a local, statewide, regional, interstate, or international cooperative association of library entities that provides for the systematic and effective coordination of the resources of eligible libraries or archives, as defined above, and information centers that work to improve the services delivered to the clientele of these libraries or archives; or
6. A library or archives association that exists on a permanent basis; serves libraries, archives, or library or archival professionals on a national, regional, State, or local level; and engages in activities designed to advance the well-being of libraries and the library profession.
How to Apply
Award Procedure
The IMLS Director takes into account the input provided by the review process and makes final funding decisions consistent with the purposes of the agency’s mission and programs. Funded and non-funded applicants are notified of funding decisions by email when all deliberations are complete.
Decision Timeline
- Approval: > 180 Days
IMLS will notify both successful and unsuccessful applicants of the final decisions by email by August 2026.
Program details & compliance
Description
The 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.
Mission Categories
Primary: Promotion of the Humanities
Other categories:
Promotion of the Arts
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
Grant funds must be used for the purposes outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity, and in accordance with the Institute of Museum and Library Services General Terms and Conditions. Examples of allowable costs include personnel salaries, wages, and fringe benefits for project staff; travel expenses for key project staff and consultants; materials, supplies, software, and equipment related directly to project activities; adaptive and/or assistive technologies and other resources and services to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities; third-party costs; publication design and printing; program evaluation; staff and volunteer training; student tuition and fees; paid internships/fellowships; and indirect or overhead costs.
Restrictions
Unallowable costs include general fundraising costs, such as development office staff or other staff time devoted to general fundraising, contributions to endowments, general operating support, acquisition of collections, general advertising or public relations costs designed solely for promotional activities other than those related to the specific project, construction or renovation of facilities (generally, any activity involving the construction trades is not an allowable cost), and social activities, receptions, or entertainment.
Required Documentation
2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.
Matching Requirements
One-to-one cost share from non-federal sources is required for National Implementation Project requests more than $299,999, excluding Student Support costs. Cost share is allowed but not required for all other project types.
Reporting & Compliance
Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts
- Subpart B — General Provisions
- Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart E — Cost Principles
- Subpart F — Audit Requirements