Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants (2027)

The Institute of Museum and Library Services, or IMLS, is the federal awarding agency for the Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants program. IMLS advances, supports, and empowers museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. The Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants program assists eligible Native Communities in sustaining and improving library and archival services within their communities. The program recognizes Tribal libraries as knowledge and resource centers and supports Native Communities across the country in addressing their individual information needs and priorities. Its overarching goal is to develop, enhance, or disseminate practices, programs, models, tools, or library staff training that strengthen library and archival services for Native American Tribes. Applicants must select the program objective that best aligns with their proposed project. The four objectives are serving the learning needs and interests of the community, improving community well-being, providing access to and preservation of information and collections, and providing services to affected communities in the event of an emergency or disaster. Supported activities may include educational programming for all ages, oral history collection and documentation, digital media and technology enhancements, institutional planning and policy development, professional training and mentorship, engagement with cultural practitioners and scholars, language and cultural resource development, digitization and digital preservation, and furnishing library spaces within existing constructed facilities. The program expects to award a total of approximately $3,500,000 through about 25 awards. Individual funding requests must be between $50,000 and $150,000. Allowable costs include personnel salaries, wages and fringe benefits, project-related travel, materials and supplies, software and equipment directly related to project activities, accessibility technologies and services, participant support costs, third-party costs, design and publication costs, program evaluation, staff and volunteer training, paid internships and fellowships, and stipends or honoraria for project advisors and active participants. Pre-award costs may be permitted at IMLS discretion with prior written approval. Unallowable costs include general fundraising, contributions to endowments, general operating support, general promotional advertising or public relations, construction or renovation of facilities, and social activities, receptions, or entertainment. IMLS funds cannot be provided to a federal agency serving as a third party. Cost share is allowed but is not required and is not considered in merit review. If an applicant voluntarily commits cost share, the recipient must meet that commitment. Eligibility is restricted to Federally recognized Native Communities that offer library and/or archival services to their communities. This includes Federally recognized Indian Tribes and Federally recognized Alaska Native villages, regional corporations, and village corporations consistent with the statutory definition used by IMLS. Library or archival services may include free access to books and other media, research databases, employment and career resources, reference services, spaces for reading, studying, and meetings, and programs, classes, cultural events, and other activities. A Tribe may submit only one application under this announcement, and applications cannot renew or add funding to an active IMLS award. Partnerships and collaborations are permitted, including relationships with other Tribal departments, Alaska Native supporting entities, Tribal colleges and universities, school libraries, local non-Tribal libraries, and nonprofits, but the eligible Tribe must remain the lead applicant and be programmatically, fiscally, and legally responsible for the award. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov Workspace or a Grants.gov system-to-system solution and must be received by 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on November 13, 2026. Applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier, a current and active SAM.gov registration, and an active Grants.gov registration with an approved Authorized Organization Representative. Required application components include the SF-424S, IMLS Library - Discretionary Program Information Form, Tribal Profile, Narrative, Schedule of Completion, Performance Measurement Plan, IMLS Budget Form, Budget Justification, and resumes of key project staff and consultants. Depending on the project, applicants may also need a current Final Federally Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement and a Digital Products Plan. The Narrative is organized under Project Justification, Project Work Plan, and Project Results. Applicants proposing digital content, resources, assets, or software must address type, availability, access, and sustainability in the Digital Products Plan. IMLS first assesses applications for eligibility and completeness and generally rejects applications that are late, incomplete, submitted by ineligible applicants, outside the allowable funding range, or inconsistent with funding restrictions and guidelines. Complete applications from eligible Tribes undergo peer review by professionals with relevant expertise. Review criteria address alignment with the NAE program goal, the strength of the identified need and primary audience, appropriateness of project resources and work plans, use of stakeholders and existing assets, digital product practices where applicable, communication of results and lessons learned, clarity and measurability of intended results, accessibility of project products, and sustainability of project benefits. Performance is considered through effectiveness, quality, and timeliness measures. Funding decisions are expected to be communicated by email in June 2027, subject to the availability of funds and IMLS discretion. Projects must begin July 1, 2027, and may operate for one or two years, with the anticipated period of performance extending through June 30, 2029. Funded applicants receive access to their Official Award Notification, reporting schedule, and approved budget through eGMS Reach. Interim and final financial and performance reports are required according to the official award documents. Program and application questions may be directed to imls-librarygrants@imls.gov, and IMLS provides the phone number 202-653-4744. Grants.gov technical support is available at support@grants.gov or 1-800-518-4726. The notice does not state that this opportunity recurs annually or on another fixed schedule.

Align the project clearly with the NAE program goal and the single objective that best fits the proposed work. Use reliable sources to establish the need and meaningfully involve the primary audience and stakeholders. Present realistic time, financial, personnel, and other resources and explain how existing Tribal and community assets or partners will contribute. Define intended results and measurable success, explain how results and lessons learned will be shared, and provide a practical plan for sustaining benefits after the award. Ensure all required and conditionally required documents are included, keep the federal request between $50,000 and $150,000, and follow the stated PDF page, file naming, and attachment requirements.