A Year of STEM 2027: $5,000 Stipend and STEM Kits for U.S. Public Libraries

A Year of STEM 2027: $5,000 Stipend and STEM Kits for U.S. Public Libraries

The American Library Association (ALA), in collaboration with Cummins Inc., is accepting applications from U.S. public libraries for A Year of STEM. This is a 12-month programming opportunity focused on building curiosity and STEM-mindedness among early childhood learners. Twenty-five libraries will be selected for the project period running from February 2027 through January 2028.

The application window opened on September 4, 2026, and closes at 11:59 p.m. on October 28, 2026. Each selected library will receive a $5,000 programming stipend, four STEM kits delivered quarterly, a programming guide, professional development, promotional materials, access to grant support resources, and ongoing support from the ALA Public Programs Office. The program is competitive and peer reviewed, so the award is not automatic for libraries that submit an application.

This opportunity is a strong fit for a public library that already serves young children and families, can name a staff member to coordinate the work, and can show why structured STEM programming would matter in its community. It is not an individual scholarship, a general operating grant, or unrestricted support for a library’s entire annual schedule. The stipend is connected to the A Year of STEM project and its programming responsibilities.

Key details

The ALA guidelines are the controlling source for the current round. Applicants should review the live guidelines, frequently asked questions, and application preview before submitting because the online form is the final source for the questions and fields required.

What the opportunity provides

The financial component is a $5,000 programming stipend. ALA says the stipend may be used for programming-related expenses such as presenter honoraria, educational materials, field-trip transportation for students, library staff time, publicity, STEM-kit materials, other program supplies, and printing. This makes the award flexible within the project, but it should still be budgeted around the required programming rather than treated as general-purpose funding.

Each selected library will also receive four STEM kits by mail, one per quarter. The kits are developed with librarian advisors and are intended to support hands-on programming. A library may use a kit in a program or make it part of the library collection for patrons to check out and use at home. That feature can extend the value of the award beyond the events held inside the building.

The non-cash package is substantial. Participants receive a newly created A Year of STEM programming guide with replicable STEM kits and program models, a reading list of STEM titles for early learners, and related resources. ALA also provides graphic templates such as posters, postcards, bookmarks, web graphics, and social media graphics. Participants receive access to online grant support materials covering programming requirements, allowable uses of the programming allowance, resources, reporting, and instructions.

Selected libraries can share ideas through a private ALA Connect discussion group and use virtual training videos on grant administration, programming requirements, evaluation, project goals, and successful STEM programming. The ALA Public Programs Office will support implementation throughout the project.

Who is eligible

The public guidelines identify public libraries, including tribal libraries, in the United States and U.S. territories as eligible institutions. Individuals cannot apply. The application therefore needs to be submitted on behalf of an eligible library, with the library’s organizational information and appropriate leadership support.

Selection is not based only on whether a library can host a science activity. A selected library must sign a contract with ALA and meet programming, promotional, reporting, and other project requirements. It must appoint one staff member as Project Director. That person will view required training materials, attend meetings with ALA, oversee programming and promotion, and submit the final report on time.

The program is designed for libraries serving early childhood learners, but the guidelines also expect the host institution to understand its local community. A library should be able to explain the audiences it serves, the access barriers or unmet needs it sees, and how a year of consistent STEM activity would complement its existing work. A library with a clear service area, supportive leadership, and a realistic staffing plan will be better positioned than one that describes an attractive idea without an owner or schedule.

What selected libraries must deliver

The commitment lasts twelve months. Each quarter, the library must host at least two programs: one hands-on STEM program using a model from the A Year of STEM guide and one STEM storytime. The library must also host an additional family program in November 2027 in recognition of National STEM Day.

The quarterly STEM kits should be used in the library’s programming or made available through the collection for home use. The project also includes promotion. Libraries are expected to publicize their A Year of STEM programming and reach the widest possible audience in their communities.

Evaluation is part of the award, not an optional add-on. Participating libraries will track program details and attendance, implement post-program surveys, and participate in online focus groups with Knology, ALA’s third-party evaluation partner. At the end of the project, the library must complete a final report in ALA Apply covering program plans, attendance, feedback, and stipend expenditures.

Before applying, identify the staff member who can perform these duties and confirm that the library has time for both delivery and documentation. A program that looks manageable as a single event may require more capacity when repeated every quarter, promoted locally, evaluated, and reported.

How to apply

Applications are submitted online through ALA Apply. The application period runs from September 4 through October 28, 2026, with submissions due by 11:59 p.m. on the deadline date. ALA states that late, incomplete, or ineligible applications will not be reviewed.

The first step is to create or access an account in ALA’s grant administration platform. Existing users can log in. A first-time applicant must create an account and provide organization information, including the library’s Employer Identification Number or Tax Identification Number. The applicant also provides personal contact information and, if the submitter is not the library’s executive officer, the executive officer’s contact information.

ALA recommends reading the project guidelines, frequently asked questions, and application preview before beginning. The public page does not present a separate universal attachment checklist, so applicants should follow the live form and its instructions rather than assume that a pitch deck, standalone budget file, or other document is mandatory. The narrative must be complete, and all required sections must be answered.

Libraries that need help with the application can request a 20-minute phone consultation with an ALA Public Programs Office staff member by emailing [email protected]. ALA specifically recognizes that libraries with the greatest financial need may have the least grant-writing capacity. Technical assistance is also available for ALA Apply, including support for accessibility problems with the platform.

How to prepare a competitive application

Start with the community need. Use local evidence that a reviewer can understand: the age groups served, attendance patterns, existing early-learning activity, geographic or transportation constraints, language access needs, or feedback from families and educators. The purpose is not to produce a long demographic profile. It is to connect a real local condition to a practical year of STEM programming.

Next, map the required activity across the project period. A simple internal calendar should show two programs per quarter, the November 2027 family event, expected use of each quarterly kit, promotion, survey collection, and reporting checkpoints. The application does not need to promise more than the program requires. A credible plan with named responsibilities is stronger than an ambitious schedule that the library cannot staff.

Build the stipend budget around eligible programming expenses. Consider presenter fees, staff time, transportation, materials, printing, publicity, and supplies. Explain why each major cost helps deliver the program. Since ALA says matching funds are not a condition in these guidelines, do not invent a match requirement. If the library expects to contribute staff hours, space, existing collections, or partner support, describe those contributions as evidence of institutional readiness rather than as a fabricated cash match.

Show institutional support. The review criteria specifically include support for the project, so the application should make clear that library leadership understands the time commitment and will protect the Project Director’s capacity. If community partners will help with outreach or family participation, explain their role and what is already confirmed. Avoid listing prestigious partners that have not agreed to participate.

Finally, make the early-childhood focus visible. ALA is not simply seeking general technology events. Describe how young children and their caregivers will encounter hands-on STEM ideas, stories, questioning, experimentation, and repeated practice over the year. Keep the language accessible and explain how the library will welcome families who may not see themselves as science-oriented.

Review criteria and common mistakes

ALA says applications will be evaluated for clarity and completeness, the quality and comprehensiveness of programming plans, demonstrated community need, and institutional support. Geographic location, community size, and demographics may also influence the final selection of sites. The process is competitive and peer reviewed.

Common weaknesses follow directly from those criteria. An application can fail to persuade if it leaves required narrative sections thin, describes activities without a quarterly plan, or claims community need without evidence. It can also create doubts if no staff member is assigned, leadership approval is unclear, or the budget does not connect to the proposed activities.

Another mistake is ignoring the evaluation workload. Attendance tracking, post-surveys, focus groups, and the final report should appear in the internal plan from the start. Do not treat these tasks as paperwork that someone will handle later. Assign responsibility and decide how program information will be collected while the events are taking place.

Applicants should also avoid promising outcomes that the program cannot measure. A library can reasonably describe intended participation, learning experiences, access, and feedback. It should not present unsupported claims that a handful of events will permanently change educational attainment or solve a broad community problem. Reviewers need a focused, achievable plan.

Timeline after submission

The application deadline is October 28, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ALA lists December 15, 2026 as the award notification date. Selected libraries participate from February 2027 through January 2028. The public guidelines do not state a separate date for stipend payment or kit delivery, so those details should be confirmed in the agreement and grant support materials if selected.

The project begins with preparation and professional development, then continues through quarterly programming and kit deliveries. November 2027 includes the additional family program for National STEM Day. The final report must cover programming plans, attendance, feedback, and stipend expenditures. Evaluation activities with Knology occur during implementation.

Because the deadline is firm, a library should create its ALA Apply account early, identify the executive officer information required by the platform, and allow time for internal review. Submitting near the cutoff adds avoidable risk if an account problem, accessibility barrier, or incomplete required field appears.

Frequently asked questions

Can an individual educator apply?

No. The eligible applicant is a public library, including a tribal library, in the United States or a U.S. territory. Individuals are not eligible to apply independently.

How many libraries will receive the opportunity?

ALA plans to select 25 public libraries through a competitive, peer-reviewed process.

Is the $5,000 unrestricted?

It is described as a programming stipend for programming-related expenses. The guidelines list examples including honoraria, educational materials, transportation, staff time, publicity, supplies, and printing. It should be planned as project support, not assumed to be general operating money.

Are STEM kits included?

Yes. Each selected library receives four kits delivered quarterly. A kit can support a library program or become part of the circulating collection for home use.

Does the library need an established STEM program?

The public eligibility section does not require a pre-existing STEM program. It does require a credible plan, institutional support, a Project Director, and the capacity to complete the required activities and evaluation. New applicants should use the narrative to show readiness rather than claim experience they do not have.

When will applicants hear the result?

ALA lists December 15, 2026 as the award notification date.

Where can applicants get help?

Questions can be sent to the ALA Public Programs Office at [email protected] or by phone at (312) 280-5045. ALA also offers application-development consultations and technical support for ALA Apply.

Official links and next steps

Read the official A Year of STEM project guidelines before drafting. From that page, review the frequently asked questions, preview the application, and open the ALA Apply platform. Prepare the community-need evidence, quarterly activity calendar, staff ownership plan, institutional-support confirmation, and programming budget before entering the final narrative.

The deadline is October 28, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. The selected libraries will receive a $5,000 programming stipend, four STEM kits, professional development, program materials, and implementation support during the February 2027–January 2028 project period. The official ALA guidelines and live application remain the final authority for current requirements.