2026 Literacy Bridges: Empowering 21st Century Communities Grant Program

The Literacy Bridges: Empowering 21st Century Communities Grant Program is a two-year initiative that will train library staff working in Carnegie-built libraries in small and rural areas of the U.S. to deliver programs integrating adult basic and digital literacy skills.

Library Grant Recipients

Cohort 1

  • Algona Public Library (IA)
  • Asotin County Library (WA)
  • Bloomfield-Eastern Greene County Public Library (IN)
  • Brownwood Community Library (TX)
  • Carroll Public Library (IA)
  • Clear Lake Public Library (IA)
  • Colfax Public Library (IA)
  • Coleraine Public Library (MN)
  • Columbus Public Library (WI)
  • Corsicana Public Library (TX)
  • East Cleveland Public Library (OH)
  • Holdrege Area Public Library (NE)
  • Huron Public Library (SD)
  • Latah County Free Library District (ID)
  • Lied Public Library - Clarinda (IA)
  • Lincoln Public Library (CA)
  • Madison Public Library (SD)
  • Mountain Home Public Library (ID)

 

  • Pella Public Library (IA)
  • Petersburg Public Library (IL)
  • Ponca Carnegie Library (NE)
  • Public Library of Enid and Garfield County (OK)
  • Pulaski County Public Library (KY)
  • Richard A. Mautino Memorial Library (IL)
  • Richfield Public Library (UT)
  • Salt Lake City Public Library Chapman Branch (UT)
  • Shawano County Library (WI)
  • Sterling Public Library (IL)
  • Syracuse-Turkey Creek Township Public Library (IN)
  • Valley City Barnes County Public Library (ND)
  • Van Buren Public Library (IN)
  • Waveland Brown Township Public Library (IN)
  • Whitefield Public Library (NH)

 

 

 
Cohort 1 Members
Cohort 1 Homepage

Cohort 2

  • Abilene Public Library (KS)
  • Atlantic Public Library (IA)
  • Baker County Library District (OR)
  • Boyne District Library (MI)
  • Carnegie Free Library of Beaver Falls (PA)
  • Carnegie Public Library-Clarksdale (MS)
  • Cherokee Public Library (IA)
  • Clyde Public Library (OH)
  • Dr. Grace O. Doane Alden Public Library (IA)
  • Elroy Public Library (WI)
  • Etowah Carnegie Public Library (TN)
  • Flora Monroe Township Public Library (IN)
  • Galva Public Library District (IL)
  • Gloversville Public Library (NY)
  • Hamburg Public Library (PA)
  • Kingston Library (NY)
  • Lake Agassiz Regional Library (MN)
  • Manistee County Library (MI)
  • Mattoon Public Library (IL)
  • McCracken County Public Library (KY)
  • McIntosh Memorial Library (WI)
  • Morristown Centennial Library (VT)
  • North Manchester Public Library (IN)
  • Orland Free Library (CA)
  • Oxford Public Library (IN)
  • Palestine Public Library (TX)
  • Peru Public Library (IL)
  • Rusk County Community Library (WI)
  • Stamford Carnegie Library (TX)
  • Talladega Armstrong-Osborne Public Library (AL)
  • Two Harbors Public Library (MN)
  • Union County Carnegie Library (SC)
  • West Liberty Public Library (IA)
Cohort 2 Members
 

Grant Program Overview

Applications are now closed. Thank you to all those who applied! 

Literacy Bridges is an invitation-only grant opportunity which supports individual library staff members who are passionate about advancing adult basic and digital literacy in their communities. Invited participants will take part in a competitive application process for a $25,000 grant award, which includes funding for new or expanded Adult Literacy programming at their library and their participation in a professional development cohort.

Through this program, selected individuals will have the opportunity to strengthen their skills in designing and leading locally responsive literacy initiatives. Alongside peers from other libraries, participants will engage in learning sessions and mentorship focused on program design, community partnerships, and program sustainability.

Ideal applicants will bring creativity, a strong connection to their communities, and a desire to make a lasting impact through inclusive, community-centered literacy programs tailored to local needs and aspirations.

Application FAQs
 

How Libraries Were Selected for Invitation

Carnegie-built libraries were invited based on whether they met conventional guidelines to determine if they were categorized as serving rural and/or small communities.

  • Small public libraries are those with a legal service area population below 25,000 people.
  • Rural public libraries are those which serve communities that are located more than 10 miles from an urbanized area.

If you have questions about your library specifically, please reach out to [email protected].

Support for this program was provided by a grant from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, formerly Carnegie Corporation of New York.
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