November 06, 2026 - New FY2028 LSTA Grant Round Opens

The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is pleased to announce the FY2028 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant round opening November 16, 2026. LSTA grants help libraries of all types and sizes improve services and respond to the needs of their communities.

"The MBLC uses federal LSTA funding to support local grants that allow libraries to bring new ideas to life and serve more people in their communities," said Brian Stokes, Head of Library Advisory and Development at the MBLC. "Some of the most meaningful library services start with a single grant."

This grant round focuses on two grant types, Explore and Impact.

Explore grants fund foundational steps towards improving library services, collections and programs. There are three options for Explore grants:

• Lifelong learning for Aging and Older Adults ($7,000): Provides funds to pilot or expand library service initiatives for aging or older adults, such as Memory Cafes, caregiver outreach, intergenerational programs and digital literacy classes.
• Literacy Supports at the Library ($5,000): Provides funds for literacy support that must focus on one type of literacy for the project. Funding can be used on eligible materials such as books, eBooks, audiobooks, videos, magazines, online training and databases, and may also be used for professional development and continuing education opportunities for staff.
• Summer Learning ($4,000): Provides funds for educational opportunities for school-age youth during the summer beyond the summer reading program.

Impact grants of $10,000 to $75,000 help libraries respond to local needs and align services with community initiatives by establishing new services or expand existing library services.

How to Apply and Upcoming Workshops

All types of libraries are eligible to apply, including tribal, school, academic, public and special libraries. Full eligibility requirements and guidelines to apply are available on the MBLC's LSTA LibGuide. Explore grant applications are due Thursday, December 17, 2026. Impact grant Letters of Intent are due Thursday, December 10, 2026, and eligible applicants will be able to submit full applications in January 2027.

For libraries interested in applying, the MBLC will host an FY2028 LSTA Grant Program Overview on Thursday, November 19 and drop-in hours for any questions on Tuesday, December 1 and Wednesday, December 2.

Federal Funding in Massachusetts

In addition to Explore and Impact grants, the MBLC uses federal LSTA funding to support statewide library services including the Commonwealth Catalog to borrow library materials across Massachusetts, preservation and disaster recovery support to care for local history, online research databases offered with the Massachusetts Library System, and statewide eBooks and audiobooks.

The MBLC administers LSTA funds in Massachusetts according to its LSTA long-range plan with guidance from the State Advisory Council on Libraries, a council of library users and librarians from public, academic, school, institutional and special libraries, as well as libraries serving persons with disabilities. More information about LSTA is available on the MBLC website. LSTA funding is made possible through the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

About MBLC

The Board of Library Commissioners (mass.gov/mblc) is the agency of state government with the statutory authority and responsibility to organize, develop, coordinate and improve library services throughout the Commonwealth. The Board advises municipalities and library trustees on the operation and maintenance of public libraries, including construction and renovation. It administers state and federal grant programs for libraries and promotes cooperation among all types of libraries through regional library systems and automated resource sharing. It also works to ensure that all residents of the Commonwealth, regardless of their geographic location, social or economic status, age, level of physical or intellectual ability or cultural background, have access to essential new electronic information technologies and significant electronic databases.

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