Applications for the 2027 Family Place Libraries™ Project close Friday, October 16, 2026.
Texas libraries can start applying for the 2027 Family Place Libraries™ Project on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) is picking a new cohort to attend a Family Place Libraries™ Training Institute at a public library in central Texas, then run the program at their own libraries.
What the grant covers
A Family Place Library™ treats parents and caregivers as their child’s first teacher and builds the library space around that idea. The grant pays for the equipment and training your library needs to:
- Run play-based workshops for children ages 0–3 and their caregivers, with community resource professionals on hand.
- Set up an interactive space where babies and toddlers can play and learn in the library.
- Build partnerships with local organizations that already serve young children and their families.
Funding and training
Libraries chosen for the 2027 cohort send staff to training in May 2027. TSLAC reimburses each attendee up to $1,000 for travel, and each library up to $8,000 for the supplies it takes to open a Family Place Library™ location.
Who should apply
Accredited libraries that want Family Place™ credentialing. Library systems that already run a Family Place™ location can also apply to expand the program to one more branch this fiscal year.
One exception: if your library is an established Family Place™ location and only needs more staff trained to stay active, don’t apply. Email TSLAC Youth Services Consultant Gabriella Trinchetta at gtrinchetta@tsl.texas.gov instead.
Key dates
| Applications open | Tuesday, September 8, 2026 |
| Informational webinar | Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 2:00–3:00 p.m. Central |
| Application deadline | Friday, October 16, 2026 |
| Training Institute | May 2027, central Texas |
How to apply
The whole application is online. Log into the TSLAC Grants Management System (GMS) to get to it. No GMS access? Email the TSLAC grants team at grants@tsl.texas.gov.
Read through the Family Place Libraries™ Project Resources page first. The 2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity is posted now, with the grant guidelines and the scoring matrix.
TSLAC is also running a webinar, Family Place Libraries Grant – What It’s About and How to Participate, on Wednesday, September 9 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Central. The Youth Services Consultant and the grants team will go over what 2027 applications need to show, how they get scored, and what the form asks for. Registration is open now.
The Family Place Libraries™ Project is funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the Library Services and Technology Act.
Read TSLAC’s full announcement: Texas Libraries Invited to Apply for 2027 Family Place Libraries™ Project Grants.