ALA Awards $3.5M to 300 Small and Rural Libraries for Accessibility

The fourth and final round of the Libraries Transforming Communities grant initiative will fund projects to improve facilities, services, and programs for people with disabilities.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 12:00am

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A high-contrast, brightly colored silkscreen print featuring a repeated pattern of an iconic library object like a book or computer, rendered in a bold, pop art style that captures the celebratory energy of increased accessibility in rural communities.Vibrant silkscreen art celebrates the accessibility upgrades coming to small-town libraries across America.Morgan Today

The American Library Association (ALA) has announced the fourth and final round of recipients for its Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Accessible Small and Rural Communities grant program. The $3.5 million in funding will be distributed to 300 small and rural libraries across 46 U.S. states and the Northern Mariana Islands to increase accessibility and better serve people with disabilities.

Why it matters

This initiative has been a catalyst for ongoing disability access, teaching nearly 900 library workers the fundamentals of accessibility and guiding improvements to library services and facilities. The outcomes will not only impact local communities but also the library staff who planned and implemented the accessibility projects.

The details

The 300 funded proposals represent communities with populations of 5,000 or fewer, with 73% of the selected libraries serving these small rural areas. 126 of the libraries also received funding in previous rounds of the grant initiative, bringing the total number of LTC: Accessible Small and Rural Communities grantees to 836. 16 libraries received funding in all four rounds.

  • The ALA announced the fourth and final round of grant recipients on April 8, 2026.
  • The LTC: Accessible Small and Rural Communities grant initiative has been running since 2014.

The players

American Library Association (ALA)

The largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to America's libraries, with a mission to empower and advocate for all libraries and library workers to ensure equitable access to information for all.

Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL)

The premier organization representing rural and small libraries, committed to providing an environment that encourages service excellence within the community of practice.

Sam Helmick

ALA President

Kate Laughlin

ARSL Executive Director

Morgan (Utah) High School Library

A first-time LTC grantee that will use $20,000 to improve accessibility for 14 students with disabilities who currently lack access to the school library.

Cambridge Springs (Penn.) Public Library

A four-time LTC grantee that has successfully achieved physical accessibility and will now use funding to increase accessibility inside the library building.

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What they’re saying

“The outcomes of LTC: Access will not only impact communities but also the library workers who wrote the grant, plan community conversations and implement their projects. This initiative has been a catalyst for ongoing disability access. It will continue to teach nearly 900 library workers the fundamentals of accessibility and guiding improvements to their library's services across the board and will continue to do so for years to come.”

— Sam Helmick, ALA President

“The Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) sends our congratulations to all of the returning and first-time libraries awarded in this final round of LTC: Accessible Small and Rural Communities. We are excited to have representation of small and rural libraries across all fifty states and the Northern Mariana Islands and look forward to seeing projects come to fruition!”

— Kate Laughlin, ARSL Executive Director

What’s next

The ALA will continue to monitor and evaluate the impact of the LTC: Accessible Small and Rural Communities grant initiative, using the lessons learned to inform future programs and initiatives aimed at improving accessibility and inclusion in libraries nationwide.

The takeaway

This multi-year grant program has empowered hundreds of small and rural libraries to make their facilities, services, and programs more accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities, demonstrating the vital role libraries play in fostering equitable access to information and community resources.