The Grant to Libraries Program funds projects based on competitive proposals.
Non-GLS libraries may request funding up to $2,500 for grants that are intended for acquisition and conservation of campus library materials, although other projects will be considered. These grant proposals are evaluated by a committee of board members and voted on by the full board of directors.
GLS departments may request up to $12,000 for grants that support the priorities the Vice Provost for Libraries has identified for Friends funding (see application for details). A GLS library in need of acquisition funding should contact Karla Strand. For preservation requests, please see Andrea Rolich, our Preservation Librarian.
To apply for a grant, download the appropriate application: GLS GrantsOR Non-GLS Grants. To capitalize on available funding and ensure time to spend it during the upcoming fiscal year, the Friends request application submissions prior to June 30 of each year.
Friends grants have funded initiatives ranging from preserving iconic classroom posters to covering international travel for the purchase of rare volumes that are not available online. Some grants have been used for more technical purposes, such as purchasing ultraviolet shields for fluorescent lights.
Past Grants to Libraries Awards
Since the Grants to Libraries program began in 1997, the Friends of the Libraries has awarded hundreds of grants totaling over $500,000.00 to UW-Madison campus libraries.
2024 Awards
Funding for the preservation of video recordings of actor Hal Holbrook’s one-man play, Mark Twain Tonight!
Preservation and conservation services funding for archival materials and monographs
Funding to bind unbound issues of Advertising Age, Adweek, and Broadcasting & Cable
Collection development funding to build a a strong, cross-identity representative collection within the safe environment of the Center
Student wage funding to process the Powell Flutes and David Carter collections within the University Archives and Records Management Services
Funding to catalog the Steven N. Orso collection of approximately 500 Spanish exhibition catalogs and art history books donated to the Kohler Art Library
Funding for a short-term cataloging position in Special Collections to address the backlog of cartonera books to make them discoverable and accessible
2023 Awards
Acquisition of materials to support the Osteology collection of the Museum
Preservation of educational television programming produced by Daniel Wilson
Library Guide focused on library support for the campus Tribal Libraries, Archives, and Museums (TLAM) Student Organization, Indigenous students on campus, and students affiliated with the campus American Indian Studies Program (AIS)
Preservation of railroad history material in the Libraries
Student research specific to the history of marginalized communities within the UW-Madison Libraries, in collaboration with the Public History Project
Expanding outreach opportunities to highlight the cartonera collection at Memorial Library
2022 Awards
Epson WorkForce DS-50000 Document Scanner
Second year extension of partial funding of Distinctive Materials Cataloging position
Platinum level sponsorship of the Midwest Archives Conference hosted in Madison
2021 Awards
Continuing digitization/conservation projects
Partial funding of a one-year Distinctive Materials Cataloging position
Two GLS librarians to attend to Rare Book School
2020 Awards
Two GLS librarians to attend to Rare Book School (suspended due to pandemic)
Preservation of Turnabout: The story of the Yale Puppeteers
Preservation of the Visiting Minority Scholar Lecture Series
For ongoing conservation projects
To acquire nonfiction materials for a recreational reading collection
For hand preservation of approximately 45 titles of children’s literature
Continuing digitization/conservation projects
For acquisition of four specific items for their collection