Book to Action Funding Opportunity

Up to $5,000 in Reimbursement Funds Available to Support Book to Action Programming for All Ages

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In partnership with the California State Library and the Office of the First Partner of California, California Library Association has an exciting Book to Action reimbursement funding opportunity for California public libraries.

What is Book to Action?

Book to Action programs offer opportunities for lifelong learning, community connection, and civic action. Book to Action takes the book club concept of everyone reading the same book and expands on it by encouraging participants to “take action” and engage in community service projects and/or civic engagement activities related to the shared book.

Funding Opportunity

California public libraries may apply for reimbursement funds of up to $5,000 to support Book to Action programming with their communities.

  • Libraries may select any title from the 2025 First Partner’s Book Club (see list below) that resonates with their community to develop Book to Action programs and apply for reimbursement funding.
  • Libraries are free to add an adult component to their Book to Action program by choosing an adult book with a similar theme to their chosen children’s/teen Book Club title.

Reimbursements can support the following:

  • Materials and supplies for volunteer and community service projects, civic engagement activities, and enrichment programming
  •  Facilitator/speaker fees
  • Book purchases to enable participants to take part in Book to Action programs and activities (books cannot be purchased solely for giveaways)

New for this year! Book to Action programs can take place throughout the year based on out-of-school time breaks and during a time that works best for libraries and communities. California libraries may choose one of the following time periods to hold their Book to Action programs:

  • Summer 2025
  • Fall 2025*
  • Winter 2025-2026*
  • Spring 2026*

*Funding for Fall 2025, Winter 2025-2026, and Spring 2026 is contingent upon federal funding confirmation, the passage of the 25-26 state budget, and authorization in the state budget to expend these funds.

Timeline

  • Reimbursement opportunity closes: Friday, March 28, 2025 at 12:00 noon
    • Applications from libraries interested in holding Book to Action programs in Summer 2025 will be reviewed on a rolling basis until available funds are exhausted.
    • Applications from libraries interested in holding Book to Action programs in Fall 2025, Winter 2025-26, or Spring 2026 will be reviewed at the same time and after the March 28th deadline.
  • Last date for Book to Action programs to occur:
    • Summer 2025 programming should conclude by August 30, 2025
    • Fall 2025* programming should conclude by November 30, 2025
    • Winter 2025-26* programming should conclude by February 28, 2026
    • Spring 2026* programming should conclude by April 30, 2026
  • Last Day to submit reimbursement requests: Two weeks following your last program with the exception of summer 2025 programming when reimbursement requests are due August 30th.
  • Grantees will receive reimbursement funds 3-5 weeks after reimbursement requests are submitted.

Evaluation

Successful applicants will be required to submit a brief library summary report on activities, and distribute outcomes surveys to participants and submit results to the project team. Surveys will be provided.

Guidelines & Requirements    

  • Plan Book to Action programming using one of the 2025 First Partner’s Book Club titles. Programs should include an “action” activity (i.e. volunteer event, community service project, and/or civic engagement activity).
  • Awardees are encouraged to collaborate with at least one community connection or partner.
  •  Please review the list of LSTA allowable and unallowable costs; if you have questions about the allowability of purchases, please contact youthandfamily@cla-net.org.
  • Jurisdictions may apply for up to two outlets. Please submit a separate application for each library location. (Due to limited funding, grant staff will award funds to accommodate the greatest number of library jurisdictions.)
  • Reimbursement request forms must be accompanied by scanned/digital receipts and received within 2 weeks of the program’s conclusion.

Community-Centered Programming

As part of the Book to Action application libraries will be asked to include information on community needs, interests and/or aspirations that the programming is intended to address; and discuss how the project will engage with, collaborate with, and design with community voices.

2025 First Partner’s Book Club titles

Preschool

  • Berry Song by Michaela Goade
  • Big by Vashti Harrison
  • From Park to Playa: The Trails that Connect Us by Nell Cross Beckerman
  • Here Are The Seeds by JaNay Brown-Wood
  • Hike by Pete Oswald
  • My Daddy is A Cowboy by Stephanie Seales
  • Summer is Here by Renee Watson

Grades K-2

  • Another by Christian Robinson
  • The Last Stand by Antwan Eady
  • Ride, Roll, Run. Time for Fun! by Valerie Bolling
  • Thank a Farmer by Maria Gianferrari

Grades 3-5

  • Contenders: Two Native Baseball Players, One World Series by Traci Sorell
  • Gamerville by Johnnie Christmas
  • How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee by Carole Boston Weatherford

Grades 6-8

  • Front Country by Sara St. Antoine
  • In the Key of Us by Mariama J. Lockington
  • Summer of June by Jamie Sumner

Grades 9-12

  • Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed by Dashka Slater
  • Ash’s Cabin by Jen Wang
  • Wild Dreamers by Margarita Engle

Steps for a Successful Book to Action Program

  1. Choosing a Book to Action title: When selecting a title, be sure to consider community input and existing needs or aspirations that the Book to Action project can help to address.
  2. Research & Know the “Why”: Before planning specific programs, have a clearly defined community needs statement and be able to explain the purpose and intention of the project to potential partners, community members, and library staff.
  3. Find a Community Partner or Partners: Listen and involve community partner(s) in designing an engaging series of events, including a community service project or civic engagement activity. Be clear about roles and expectations so all parties involved understand the terms of the collaboration.
  4. Design Your Programs: Activities and events that provide opportunities for participants to take “action” around the theme of the selected book are at the heart of Book to Action programs. Your program offerings should include an event(s) that encourage volunteerism or participation in a community service project or civic engagement activity. Additional complementary programming to accompany your “action” event is recommended and encouraged. These could include book discussions, author or expert talks, panel discussions, community conversations, workshops, demos, documentary screenings, etc. Encourage community members to experience the full impact of the Book to Action program by participating in as many activities as possible.
  5. Invite the Author or Speaker: If applicable (author is living and available) consider booking the author of the selected Book to Action title. If that is not an option, work with community partner(s) to form a panel or create a speaker series instead.
  6. Encourage Diverse Opinions and Respectful Dialogue: When focusing on a book that highlights a social issue, expect that people won’t always agree with the author or with each other. Facilitate discussions that give people permission to respectfully disagree with each other. Set ground rules. Emphasize the library’s role as a facilitator and connector. Get help from community partners or a professional moderator.
  7. Outreach & Marketing are key: Outreach, partnerships, and marketing are essential to the success of any Book to Action series. Write a press release. Make follow-up calls or emails. Offer to write an article (which media outlets might publish directly) and invite media to events. Consult the PR or Communications Officer at the library or city/county system level. Be sure to include the LSTA Acknowledgement Statement, located on the bottom of the Manage Your Grant page, on all promotional material.
  8. Document, Evaluate and Share: For each Book to Action event, distribute outcomes surveys, note the number of participants, and plan to report and reflect on this data. For in person events, provide surveys with pens/pencils to participants and/or hand the participants a card with the library’s Book to Action survey link or QR code. For virtual events, share the survey link with an invitation to provide feedback. Debrief with staff and volunteers to discuss what went well and what needs additional support and be sure to adjust the next program accordingly. Document events with photos, video, and social media posts. Invite community members and partners to talk about their Book to Action experience.

Questions?

Contact the CLA project team at youthandfamily@cla-net.org