Federal library grants open to qualifying Alaska Native tribes and corporations

Alaska Native villages, federally recognized tribes and qualifying Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act regional and village corporations that provide library or archival services have until Nov. 13 to apply for two federal grant programs.

Native American Library Services Basic Grants are noncompetitive awards of $6,000 to $10,000 for one year. They can support library materials, community programming and staff training. The Institute of Museum and Library Services says it makes the awards to eligible applicants that submit complete applications on time.

Enhancement Grants are competitive, peer-reviewed awards of $50,000 to $150,000 for projects lasting up to two years. Eligible work includes oral-history collection, language and cultural materials, digitization, technology improvements and professional training.

Neither program requires matching funds, and neither allows construction or renovation. The legal applicant must be an eligible Native entity that already offers library or archival services. A library, school or nonprofit cannot apply independently, although it may help administer a grant or participate as a partner.

Chilkat Indian Village shows how the programs differ. Its $10,000 FY2026 Basic Grant supports core library operations. A separate $143,094 Enhancement Grant supports Tlingit language resources connected to traditional land use and subsistence practices at the Klukwan Community and School Library. That award runs through September 2027.

Applications are due through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time Nov. 13. Applicants need an active SAM.gov registration, a Unique Entity Identifier and Grants.gov registration. IMLS warns that completing those registrations can take several weeks. All awards remain subject to available funding and agency discretion.