$5.2 Million Awarded to Support Library Services for Tribal Communities

Three grant categories, all of which support and grow American Indian library resources, accept applications annually.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services in Washington, DC, has awarded a total of $5,253,000 to improve library services belonging to Native American, Native Alaskan, and Native Hawaiian organizations.

The grants, totaling over $5.2 million, will fund numerous grant projects dedicated to expanding library resources in tribal communities, accomplished through educational programming, literacy resources, and technology support. The grants provided by The Institute of Museum and Library Services are the primary federal source of support for United States libraries, museums, and some other public resources.

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Three grant categories, all of which support and grow Native library resources, are open annually to applicants. These grants ensure that the unique heritage of Native communities is honored and acknowledged in Native library services. It ensures language preservation, communities are connected, and people can share stories.

Native American Library Services Basic Grants support existing library operations, ensuring that libraries are maintained and don’t fall into disrepair. $1,297,411 in National American Library Services Basic Grants was split equally among 117 Native American Tribes, Alaskan Native villages, and other villages.

Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants are an additional grant on top of the Native American Library Services Basic Grants. Applicants can only receive the former if they have applied for the latter. These grants improve library services in Native communities. In 2022, The Institute of Museum and Library Services was able to award $3,096,553 of Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants to 23 Tribes across 11 US states.

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Finally, the Native Hawaiian Library Services Grant is open to organizations representing the Native Hawaiian community. These grants may contribute to building or implementing new services or may be used to expand existing services and resources. In 2022, The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded $859,036 to organizations representing Native Hawaiians.

All three types of grants — the Native American Library Services Basic Grant, the Native American Library Services Enhancement Grant, and the Native Hawaiian Library Services Grant — will be used to fund the improvement and expansion of library services in Native communities and play a critical role in their future.

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