Grants
Friends of the Tompkins County Public Library provides funding, through grants, to community organizations, libraries serving Tompkins County residents, and students and staff of area libraries for scholarships, awards, and continuing education.
Click the buttons below for more information on eligibility and how to apply.
Education Grants
The Friends of the Library Education Grants Committee offers monetary assistance through education grants to librarians and staff members of public and school libraries to attend
professional meetings, workshops, training sessions, and conferences.
The Committee also supports students seeking an advanced degree in library service, primarily those who are interested in public or school librarianship. Students must be enrolled in an accredited Library Science graduate program. These grants may be given for more than one year if the library school student has completed all previous courses successfully.
These grants are available to applicants working and/or living within the counties served by the Finger Lakes Library System (https://www.flls.org). Award amounts are typically in the several hundreds of dollars range.
Application Information
Click to download the 2026 Education Grants application as a Word or PDF document. The deadline for applications is Friday, October 16, 2026. Applicants will be notified regarding the committee's decision shortly thereafter.
Some Of Our Grant Recipients
to attend workshops and conferences or take classes leading to a MLS degree
to improve their services or collections
to establish an in-house library with computers for adults with developmental disabilities
to purchase books for adult basic education, ESL and incarcerated youth programs
to purchase CD players and books on CD for residents at Willowbrook Manor, senior apartments in Dryden
to purchase books for ICSD 5th graders during visit to the Cayuga Nature Center
to purchase workbooks used by residents in a financial literacy class
to print pamphlets on grief for patients and their families
to purchase books on mental health topics for in-house library and to give to families in therapy
to purchase supplies that will help disabled adults to improve functional math, reading skills
to purchase books on sexual abuse and domestic violence topics for in-house library and to give to clients