Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program | LB21 FY20

Opportunity Information: Apply for LB21 FY20

The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (LB21) is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) aimed at strengthening and modernizing the library and archives profession in the United States. Its central focus is workforce development, with a clear emphasis on building and sustaining a more diverse pipeline of librarians and archives professionals who can respond to the public's evolving learning, research, and information needs. In practice, the program is designed to help the field adapt to changes in technology, community expectations, and the ways people access and use information, while also addressing long-term staffing and leadership needs across libraries and archives.

The program supports projects that improve training and professional development for current library and archives workers, including opportunities to build new skills, deepen subject-matter expertise, and strengthen services for a wide range of communities. Alongside professional development, LB21 also invests in developing faculty and library leaders, recognizing that the strength of the profession depends not only on front-line staff but also on educators and administrators who shape future talent, guide institutional strategy, and lead organizational change. A major component of the program is recruitment, education, and retention of the next generation of professionals, with the stated goal of increasing diversity in the workforce and ensuring that libraries and archives can better reflect and serve the communities that rely on them.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number "LB21 FY20" and uses the grant funding instrument type. It falls under the broader activity categories of Arts and Humanities (as reflected through cultural affairs-related classifications) and is associated with CFDA number 45.313. The opportunity was created on July 25, 2019, and the original application deadline was March 30, 2020. The program anticipated making about 24 awards, with a maximum award amount (award ceiling) of up to $1,000,000 per grant, indicating that it can support both substantial, multi-part initiatives as well as projects with significant national, regional, or institutional impact.

Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with additional clarification typically provided in the full eligibility section of the funding notice. In general terms, this suggests that eligible applicants may extend beyond only traditional governmental library entities and could include a range of organizations involved in library and archives education, training, research, and professional development, depending on the specific requirements laid out in the official notice. Overall, LB21 is structured as a workforce-focused investment program: it helps the library and archives field train current professionals, cultivate leadership and faculty, and bring new people into the profession in a way that is better aligned with the present and future needs of the American public.

• The Institute of Museum and Library Services in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda), humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.313.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 25, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 30, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 24 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for LB21 FY20

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