The competitive Public Library Accessibility and Improvement Grant Program began in 1994 exclusively as a competitive dollar-for-dollar matching grant program to remove architectural barriers in public library buildings. In 2005, the Legislature amended and expanded the legislation to permit grant funds to be used for general renovation or expansion of an existing library building, new construction, and accessibility projects, which have priority.The 2012 Legislature appropriated $1 million for the 2013-2014 biennium for this grant program.

The grant program has separate guidelines and applications for accessibility-only and for general improvement and new construction projects. The maximum amount for an accessibility-only grant is $200,000; the general improvement and construction grant maximum is $1 million.

 

Completed Grant Projects

Completed projects using this grant are summarized below. Accessibility projects and improvement projects are listed separately.
 

• Accessibility Grant Projects and Costs (PDF) 
  Provides summary information of all completed public library accessibility projects that received matching state funds from a competitive grant process.
• Improvement Grant Projects and Costs (PDF) 
  Provides summary information of all completed public library improvement projects that received matching state funds from a competitive grant process.

Grant Procedures, Documents and Forms

No applications are being accepted at this time.
 

• Library Building Construction Planning Checklist (PDF) 
  Provides planning steps and activities recommended for a public library accessibility and improvement grant application.
• Public Library Building Accessibility Survey - 2012 Edition (PDF) 
  Serves as a checklist for many building areas that must be accessible to the public. A completed survey is required for accessibility grant and general improvement applications.
• Improvement Grant Guidelines – 2012 (PDF) 
  Provides details for applying for a grant to improve or expand an existing building or to construct a new building. Information includes applicable laws and rules, eligibility requirements, and grant application procedures.
• Improvement Grant Application - 2012 (Word .docx) 
  Official application form that must be submitted for consideration for a grant that will improve or expand an existing building or to construct a new building. Information includes applicable laws and rules, eligibility requirements, and the grant application procedures.
• Accessibility Grant Guidelines - 2012 (PDF) 
  Provides details for applying for a grant exclusively to improve accessibility. Requests may not exceed $200,000. Information includes applicable laws and rules, eligibility requirements, and grant application procedures.
• Accessibility Grant Application - 2012 (Word .docx) 
  Official application form that must be submitted for consideration for an accessibility-only grant.