Local governments can now apply for an ICMA Public Library Innovation Grant. With the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, ICMA will provide $500,000 in grants to cities, towns, and counties that are committed to using their public library as a vital tool in addressing community priorities and issues in a unique, non-traditional manner.

Public libraries can play a dynamic role in communities. Once an institution devoted to book circulation, today’s libraries provide citizens and businesses with internet connectivity, career development, childhood literacy, immigration assistance, and other important services.  However, many libraries across the country are struggling to take on a larger role in meeting their community’s needs and require increased support from their city or county administrator.

Announcing a new grant from ICMA
Local governments can now apply for an ICMA Public Library Innovation Grant. With the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, ICMA will provide $500,000 in grants to cities, towns, and counties that are committed to using their public library as a vital tool in addressing community priorities and issues in a unique, non-traditional manner. Individual grants will range from $20,000 to $60,000 and be 18 months in length.

All Innovation Grants will be anchored by a partnership between the office of the chief administrative officer (city, county, and town manager) and the public library.  A series of leadership workshops and project coaching will support grantees in solidifying the manager/librarian partnership, ensuring the short-term success of the project, and developing the capacity to support the long-term use of libraries to meet community goals.

ICMA’s Local Government and Public Libraries Initiative
In 2007, ICMA began working with the Gates Foundation on the Local Government and Public Libraries Initiative to engage local government managers as leaders in support of public libraries. An ICMA survey revealed that less than half of the responding local government managers reported that the chief librarian/library director was a member of the local government management team and only 41 percent reported weekly meetings with the chief librarian/library director. These statistics suggest that for many local government managers, libraries are not being used to strategically address community needs.

As a fundamental social institution, public libraries need strong partnerships with their local governments to secure the assistance—financial and otherwise—needed to provide services. And local government managers have a vested interest in providing such assistance in light of the crucial role public libraries offer to the overall health of a community. Yet many city and county managers, are unaware of the new services a library can provide and how they can support these services.

The Innovation Grants are designed to bridge this gap. They will help city and county managers understand the role public libraries could play in delivering services such as public safety and disaster preparedness, sustainability, health, immigration, civic engagement, and economic development.

Applications are due Friday, January 9, 2009, 5:00 p.m. EST
To apply for an ICMA Public Library Innovation Grant, please download an application, guidelines, and budget template. Contact Molly Donelan at 202.962.3645 or via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.