Grants of $350 to public libraries support summer programs that keep kids reading and learning
VermontBiz The Vermont Department of Libraries has awarded 148 public libraries grants of $350 to support the 2026 Summer Program.
Public libraries across Vermont offer a variety of summer programs for children and teens—fostering a love of reading and helping to prevent the loss of reading skills during the summer when school is out. Program types include STEM, author visits, arts enrichment activities, book discussion groups, story times, and more.
Research shows that children who continue to read and learn over the summer maintain their reading skills and return to school better prepared in the fall. In 2025, the 146 libraries that received summer reading grants from the Department provided programming for 22,607 children ages 0-18. The Department of Libraries is hopeful that this year, even more children will benefit from these non-competitive grants, which were made available with State general funds.
“These grants are a small investment with a big return,” said Catherine Delneo, Vermont’s State Librarian and Commissioner of Libraries. “When public libraries deliver high-quality summer programming, we are supporting families, strengthening communities, and setting students up for success in the new school year. We are grateful to the dedicated library staff and volunteers who participate in our statewide Summer Reading program and provide free programs for children and families in our state! We encourage kids to visit their local public library this summer, to sign up for Vermont’s statewide summer reading program, and to keep reading!”
Visit the Vermont Department of Library’s 2026 Summer Programming Grant webpage to view the library recipient list.
The Vermont Department of Libraries is housed within the Vermont Agency of Administration and supports Vermont libraries as they work to ensure access to quality information for their patrons. Department of Libraries programs are funded, in part, by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services' Grants to States Program. To learn more, visit libraries.vermont.gov.
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