We all know youth librarians are super heroes. We help with homework, we find the perfect book and we spend SO much time planning programs. Programs are really the backbone of what we do; it ties all of our work together. What youth librarians come up with are creative, insightful and really touches the heart of the community. But often, they can be a little pricey. That’s where the Light the Way grant comes in!
ALSC’s Light the Way Grant is generously sponsored by Candlewick Press and is presented in honor of Kate DiCamillo and the themes she eloquently explores in her novels. The award provides $3,000 to help a library conduct impactful outreach to underserved populations through a new program or an expansion of existing work. The award committee recognizes that underserved populations vary from community to community, and all programs designed to directly address local needs and reduce barriers to library access are encouraged to apply!
ALSC’s Light the Way Grant is generously sponsored by Candlewick Press and is presented in honor of Kate DiCamillo and the themes she eloquently explores in her novels. The award provides $3,000 to help a library conduct impactful outreach to underserved populations through a new program or an expansion of existing work. The award committee recognizes that underserved populations vary from community to community, and all programs designed to
directly address local needs and reduce barriers to library access are encouraged to apply!
Who Can Your Project Serve?
The grant is open to any project that seeks to engage an underserved population of children from birth through age 14. These populations may include (but are not limited to):
- Children with learning or physical differences
- English language learners
- Children in non-traditional school environments
- Children in non-traditional family settings (such as teen parents, foster youth, children in the juvenile justice system, and children in LGBTQ+ families), etc.
Key Details
- Award amount: $3,000
- Deadline to apply: December 18, 2026
- Grant implementation period: One calendar year– with reports due on June 30 and September 15
- Eligibility: Projects focused on underserved populations of children 0-14.
- Where to apply: https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/profawards/candlewicklighttheway
If you have questions about your application, or the award, please reach out to the co-chairs of the Grants & Awards committee, Lauren Brandstetter (lauren.brandstetter@kentonlibrary.org) and Sarah Clarke (sarahclarke1115@gmail.com).
Today’s blog post was written by Sarah Clarke, Head of Children’s Services at Great Neck Library in Great Neck, NY, on behalf of the ALSC Grants and Awards Committee. She can be reached at sarahclarke1115@gmail.com and is very excited to read all the Light the Way applications as they come in!
The post Brighten Your Programming with the “Light the Way” Grant appeared first on ALSC Blog.
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