My Library Is... Grant

My Library Is... Grant is sponsored by Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS). Funding supports library projects that help tell the story of the library and promote its services to diverse and underserved audiences.

Projects must incorporate equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) principles.

My Library Is... Grant | Reaching Across Illinois Library System As part of the My Library Is… campaign, RAILS invites applications for grant projects that help tell the story of the library. See previous grant recipients .

See My Library Is... Grant Presentation. All RAILS libraries are eligible to apply.

Libraries that received funding from the 2025 My Library Is… Grant must wait a year before applying again. All applications will be evaluated by a team of volunteer reviewers. The rubric below includes the criteria on which all applications will be evaluated: My Library Is ...

Grant Evaluation Rubric Individual awards are limited to $5,000. We will fund up to $100,000 in total awards for the entire grant period. The link below provides more information on how these grants will be funded: My Library Is...

Grant Funding Formula Grants will be awarded, and funds distributed approximately 6-8 weeks after the application deadline. All applications will be either full funded or not funded; no applications will be partially funded. All applications must include the following: Statement of Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion For expectations of these elements, please see Criteria & Evaluation above.

Applications will open November 1, 2025 and close Friday, January 30, 2026, at 5:00 pm Central . Late applications will not be accepted. Below are examples of types of projects RAILS is interested in funding.

This is not, by any means, an exhaustive list. We welcome creativity and innovation and will consider both in the decision-making process. As mentioned above, all projects must incorporate EDI principles and applicants must demonstrate the impact these projects will have on diverse audiences.

Projects that help promote the role of library workers in material selection Design and/or print projects that help demonstrate the role of the library Purchasing new technologies that support the work of the library in reaching new audiences Media projects that demonstrate the value of the library or showcase specific programs, services, or audiences Working with a marketing consultant to do a marketing audit, assessment, or developing collateral such as templates images and logos for your library See more examples of various My Library Is...

Grant projects at the My Library Is... website blog . The following types of projects will not be considered for RAILS' My Library Is...

Grants: Individual author visits, book fairs, conference/seminars, or any other one-time events that do not correspond with an ongoing promotional effort. Building projects, vehicles, or purchases of furniture; please note that projects that include promotion/marketing of these materials may be considered, but funds cannot be used for construction costs or the physical materials themselves.

Requests for reimbursement of staff-time, wages or salaries. Purchases of alcohol, gifts, or catering for events. Consider applying for the RAILS Continuing Education Event grant .

Conditions and Requirements All conditions must be met to be considered for this award: At least one project partner must be a RAILS library; the RAILS library must also be the fiscal agent for the grant application; the fiscal agent will receive the check for any awarded funds The amount requested cannot exceed $5,000. Grant recipients must submit a formal grant report within 30 days after the completion of grant activities.

RAILS will provide a template to the primary contact after the grant proposal has been accepted. A copy of relevant invoices must be sent with the completed grant report. Any unused funds must be returned to RAILS upon completion of the grant.

RAILS will not assist in funding costs associated with items deemed non-essential to the project, including but not limited to food and gifts. Grant recipients are required to acknowledge RAILS financial support of their grant in any promotional activities. Grant recipients must commit to making project products or outputs available for reuse under a Creative Commons license or otherwise freely available.

Grant recipients will be required to write a My Library Is… blog post, giving a brief overview of their project and the impact it had on diverse student audiences. Grant recipients may be asked to participate in either a RAILS Member Update or a Sparks podcast event to give an overview of their project.