A New eCourse to Learn the Grant Process for a New Year

Dan Freeman, Director of Continuing Education, American Library Association

For many library professionals, the word "grant" inspires a mix of excitement and exhaustion. We know that external funding is the key to launching that makerspace, expanding the community garden or digitizing a local archive. Yet, the process of securing those funds often feels like a lonely marathon—one usually run by a single, overwhelmed staff member working after hours on a complex narrative.

For library workers looking to level up their skills, the focus is shifting away from simple "grant writing" and toward "grant management and strategy." This is the core philosophy behind a new self-paced eCourse recently released by the American Library Association.

As municipal budgets tighten and community needs grow more complex, the ability to secure outside funding is no longer a "bonus" skill—it’s a necessity. By moving away from the "lone wolf" model and toward a team-based, strategic approach, libraries can ensure they have the resources they need to serve their communities for years to come.

The real challenge isn't just winning one grant; it’s building a system where funding flows consistently. This requires a cultural shift within the organization. It involves "asset mapping"—identifying the hidden strengths of your staff and partners—and creating a replicable framework so that you aren't reinventing the wheel every time a new Request for Proposal (RFP) drops.

Industry experts Bess de Farber and Dr. Sophia Acord, who have spent decades designing these very systems, argue that grantseeking should be viewed as a "library-wide adventure." It’s about forging partnerships with local organizations and building internal systems that make the submission process efficient rather than frantic.

Rather than just teaching you where to put a comma, the course—Collaborative Grantseeking for Library Staff—focuses on the "how" of teamwork. It’s designed to be practical, offering templates and real-world examples of funded proposals to show exactly how a collaborative approach works in practice.

This first-of-its-kind ALA self-paced eCourse provides a comprehensive foundation in collaborative grantseeking, proposal development and submission. You’ll discover practical strategies for launching a strong, sustainable program that expands resources and multiplies your library’s impact. No experience required, as this course is built for everyone: newcomers who want to crack the grantseeking code, seasoned grant writers seeking fresh collaborative frameworks and leaders eager to empower their teams with new tools for external funding success.

Not sure if this course is for you? You can view the first module for free.