Community Impact Grants (formerly Local and Collaborative Grants)

The Community Impact Grants, previously known as Local and Collaborative Grants, are designed to support California libraries in effectively responding to local needs and aligning services with community aspirations. The grants aim to foster experimentation, research, and development within California libraries. These projects are funded through the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and align with Goal 1 of the California State Library’s five-year plan, which is to enhance the capacity of libraries to create programs and services collaboratively with their local communities. The grant program offers funding for projects that address unique local needs, promote community engagement, and facilitate innovative library services. Funded projects may include creating dedicated sensory spaces for youth, establishing makerspaces, developing STEAM kits, producing reading materials for underserved adult learners, and archiving community responses to the opioid crisis. The focus is on empowering libraries to design and implement projects that meet specific local challenges while expanding access to resources, technology, and educational opportunities. For the fiscal year 2024-2025, several California libraries received funding under the Community Impact Grants. Projects include the creation of sensory spaces for youth in four Los Angeles Public Library branches, the establishment of a makerspace and STEAM kits at Monrovia Public Library, the production of 60 photo books at Sacramento Public Library for adult learners, and the co-development of the Opioid Crisis Community Archive at the University of California, San Francisco. Previous grantees under the 2023-2024 fiscal year include Benicia Public Library, which created a dedicated space for teens and tweens, and Glendale Library Arts & Culture, which provided residency positions for post-graduate librarians. Other funded projects included STEAM and technology programs for underserved youth, emergency preparedness for older adults, and community-led programming to support non-English speakers and housing-insecure populations. Eligibility for the Community Impact Grants is limited to California libraries and library-related entities, including public libraries, academic libraries, and library consortia. Potential applicants are encouraged to demonstrate alignment with the state’s five-year plan and to propose projects that address local needs and community aspirations. Applicants are expected to collaborate with community partners and to outline plans for sustainability and long-term impact. For inquiries regarding the grant, potential applicants can contact the grant administrators via email at LSTAgrants@library.ca.gov.

Applicants are encouraged to align projects with the state library’s five-year plan and to emphasize community collaboration and sustainable impact.