The California State Library is seeking applications for its Zip Books Grant Program.
Donor Name: California State Library
State: California
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/20/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The Zip Books program provides library users with speedy access to books that are not available at their local libraries. A patron requests the item, the library purchases it from a book vendor, and the book is shipped directly to the patron’s home. When finished, the patron returns the item to the library and the library adds it to the collection.
Funding Information
Libraries can apply for up to $35,000 for books in tangible formats.
Grant Period
July 1, 2026 – August 31, 2027.
Eligibility Criteria
All California public libraries are eligible to apply.
- If the total amount of funding requested exceeds available funding, The Zip Books program prioritizes libraries that:
- Serve a rural community
- Have a high California Poverty Measure
- Have a low Library Income Per Capita level
- All libraries are welcome to participate in Zip Books and are encouraged to share resources, lessons and practices with other Zip Book libraries. Libraries that receive little to no funding are still encouraged to offer a Zip Books program to their community and can still participate in the community of practice and resource sharing efforts that surround the program. Libraries that are not funded are still eligible to join the Zip Books email list serve, which will allow libraries to connect with other libraries currently running a Zip Books program. Email the Zip Books team to join the listserv.
Requirements
Participating libraries will be required to submit reports to the California State Library. Reporting forms will be provided to grantees. Reporting periods and due dates are still to be determined.
The elements of the reports will include:
- Organization information
- Expenditure and budget data
- Project abstract
- Progress towards project activities
- Project outputs including:
- Number of unique patrons served
- Name of languages of purchased books
- Number of requests
- Number of books added to the library collection
- Number of requests not fulfilled
- Number of books not returned by patrons to the library
- Project outcomes
- Success stories and lessons learned.
For more information, visit California State Library.
