LB21-FY23: Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (2023)
Closed
This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (2027) (LB21-FY27). Status: Closes November 13, 2026 (6 days left). It is in our archive of Institute of Museum and Library Services notices from 2022.
Institute of Museum and Library Services offered grants of up to $1.0 million (at least $50,000) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make about 37 awards worth $8.0 million in total. Applications closed on March 17, 2023.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed July 8, 2022. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$1.0 million
- Award floor$50,000
- Total funding$8.0 million
- Expected awards37
- Cost sharingRequired
- Funding typeGrant
Other notices with this title
| Notice | Posted | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LB21-FY27 | September 1, 2026 | Closes November 13, 2026 (6 days left) | Open |
| LB21-FY26 | January 13, 2026 | Closed March 13, 2026 | Closed |
| LB21-FY25 | July 18, 2024 | Closed March 10, 2025 | Closed |
| LB21-FY24 | July 13, 2023 | Closed March 20, 2024 | Closed |
| LB21-FY22-P2 | January 26, 2022 | Closed March 25, 2022 | Closed |
| LB21-FY22 | July 1, 2021 | Closed September 24, 2021 | Closed |
Key dates
| Posted | July 7, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | March 17, 2023 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
See the Notice of Funding Opportunity for eligibility requirements.
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program awards averaged $246,823; this notice allows up to $1.0 million per award.
- Most of the program's money (100% over five years) went to state and local governments.
- The notice requires cost sharing or matching funds, so you must contribute part of the project cost.
What the grant funds
The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (LB21) supports the training and professional development for library and archives professionals; developing faculty and information leaders; and recruiting, educating, and retaining the next generation of library and archives professionals in order to develop a diverse workforce of library and archives professionals and meet the information needs of their communities. The goals for this program are to generate projects of far-reaching impact that: • Recruit, train, develop, and retain a diverse workforce of library and archives professionals. • Develop faculty, library, and archives leaders by increasing the institutional capacity of libraries, archives, and graduate programs related to library and information science. • Enhance the training and professional development of the library and archival workforce to meet the needs of their communities. The application process for the LB21 program has two phases; applicants must begin by applying for Phase I. For Phase I, all applicants must submit preliminary proposals by the September 21st deadline listed for this Notice of Funding Opportunity. For Phase II, only selected applicants will be invited to submit Full Proposals. Invited Full Proposals will be due March 17, 2023. Make sure you are filling out the application for the correct phase; Grants.gov will not let you submit the application if you accidentally upload it to the wrong phase.
Who has won Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (45.313) awarded $43.7 million across 177 grant awards, an average of $246,823 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois | Illinois | 7 | $2.6 million |
| University of North Texas | Texas | 10 | $2.6 million |
| Califa Group | California | 6 | $1.9 million |
| University of Maryland, College Park | Maryland | 4 | $1.7 million |
| University of South Carolina | South Carolina | 7 | $1.5 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, LB21-FY27, which is open now.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is LB21-FY23 still open?
No. It closed on March 17, 2023. A newer notice is open: LB21-FY27, closes November 13, 2026 (6 days left).
Who can apply for Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (2023)?
Institute of Museum and Library Services accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (2023)?
Closed March 17, 2023. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $1.0 million each. About $8.0 million in total across about 37 awards.
Who has won Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were University of Illinois, University of North Texas, Califa Group. The program made 177 awards worth $43.7 million in that time.