CDE Blank Default Post - When There Are No Closures or Notices
.
State Grants to Libraries
In the 2026 legislative session, the Colorado Legislature appropriated nearly $3 million in the state's budget to fund the State Grants to Libraries Act. The funds will be available to eligible publicly funded school, public and academic libraries to fund grants for library materials as defined in the statute (see CRS 24-90-401). The purpose of the funds is for educational materials in libraries that support efforts to improve literacy and learning.
Funding Available for 2026-2027
The Colorado State Library is offering State Grants to Libraries funding for 2026-2027. The grant is open to eligible academic, public, and school libraries (one grant awarded per library jurisdiction, academic institution, or school district). Applications are due by Tuesday, September 15, 2026. View the 2026-2027 projected funding amounts (PDF).
Timeline
Remaining FY2025-2026 deadlines
- September 30, 2026: Final Expenditure Report (FER) due
Instructions in GAINS Support and Training section below
FY2026-2027
- July 1, 2026: Application opens in GAINS
- September 15, 2026: Applications due by 4:00 PM in GAINS
- October 2026: Final award amounts announced
- July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027: grant performance period
- July 15, 2027: Last day to request funds
- September 30, 2027: FER due
See Instructions, Training, and GAINS Support and Training Resources section
Latest Publications
FY25-26 State Grants to Libraries Allocation: Fast Fact from the Library Research Service (LRS) of where the 2025-2026 State Grants to Libraries were distributed, funding 313 grants to academic, public, school, and state-run institutional libraries across the state.
FY24-25 State Grants to Libraries Close Out Survey Results: In 2024-2025, $3 million was distributed to 316 public, school, academic, and institutional libraries. This Fast Fact from LRS shows how that money was used, some benefits of the funding, and how grantees said the funding helped them.
For printer-friendly versions, email Melissa Carlson, carlson_m@cde.state.co.us
Resources
Contact
Melissa Carlson, Program Manager
carlson_m@cde.state.co.us
720-737-1829
For assistance with GAINS: email GAINS@cde.state.co.us
Fiscal contact: Anissa El Bialy, el-bialy_a@cde.state.co.us, Grants Fiscal Analyst, Grants Fiscal Management Unit