TOLEDO, Ohio — December 4, 2025 — Thirty-nine small public libraries across the Western United States are receiving a combined total of $220,050 in new grants, announced the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation. These libraries, spanning Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Utah, collectively serve more than 247,000 individuals in rural communities, with populations ranging from 180 to 17,310 residents.
This year, the need and impact expressed by the rural libraries was especially moving, illustrating the powerful role rural libraries play as hubs of connection, learning, and local resilience. Although many requests included materials such as books and educational tools, most applicants described broader needs: safe community gathering spaces, youth engagement opportunities, and critical access to technology and services.
“Rural libraries are more than buildings with books. They are lifelines for their communities,” said Mike Deetsch, executive director of the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation. “We are proud to invest in the innovative ways these libraries foster belonging, literacy, and opportunity.”
Recognizing that local libraries best understand the specific funding required to meet their goals, the Foundation distributed grants that are right-sized to ensure project success and provide flexibility. Funding awards ranged from a maximum of $10,000 to a minimum of $1,500. The majority of libraries received $5,500.
Rural libraries serve as anchors that leverage local knowledge and creativity to maximize access to resources, technology, and gathering spaces. Below are three libraries whose stories reflect the creativity, commitment, and deep community pride found across all 39 grantees.
Parker Public Library (Parker, AZ)
Parker Public Library will use its grant to expand dedicated tween and teen programming in one of Arizona’s most rural and underserved counties. With few accessible youth spaces in the region, the library aims to re-engage young people through weekly creative, educational, and social programs tailored to ages 10–17. Funding will support staff, supplies, and flexible enrichment activities that promote literacy, connection, and long-term library engagement.
Stanley Community Library (Stanley, ID)
Stanley Community Library will strengthen early-learning opportunities by establishing a weekly Pre-K/Story Time program for local families in a region with no organized early-childhood education. The library plans to make early learning more accessible and engaging through story hours, stay-and-play activities, and other literacy-building experiences. Grant funds will help purchase essential materials such as child-sized furniture, organizers, and crafting supplies to create a welcoming and developmentally supportive space.
Lordsburg Hidalgo Library (Lordsburg, NM)
Lordsburg Hidalgo Library will use its grant to purchase laptops that will give local children reliable access to technology in a community where many families lack computers and internet at home. With this equipment, the library can launch new STEM programs—including coding clubs, computer literacy sessions, and introductory AI workshops—to help youth build essential digital skills. This investment will ensure that children in this rural area have equitable opportunities to learn, explore, and prepare for future education and careers.
The grants are being distributed based on the understanding that thriving communities require access to learning, creativity, and human connection, and these libraries directly support opportunity in their communities.
“Every book borrowed, every youth program offered, every conversation shared, these build stronger communities,” said Deetsch. “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with rural libraries that show us what possibility looks like.”