Library grants that are stale, paused, or reversed

The reverse-kill: a March 2025 executive order tried to dismantle IMLS, but a federal court permanently blocked it (Nov 21, 2025), all grants were reinstated (Dec 3, 2025), and the government withdrew its appeal and settled in April 2026. IMLS is live and granting. Equally stale: pre-2025 content citing the old two-phase deadlines.

Still cited on roundups as THE IMLS small-library program. It's defunct — no longer on the IMLS program list, with its last competitions years ago. Small libraries get IMLS money through the state LSTA door instead.

Listed as live on many museum-grant roundups, but it's paused — its administrator allocated no funds for the 2026 program year and set no revival date (last deadline was Feb 28, 2025). For an assessment meanwhile, use an NEH Preservation Assistance grant or the AASLH STEPS self-assessment. May revive now that IMLS funding is secure.

Superseded. For FY2026–2030 the library Category Two budget is $5.43 per square foot with a $30,175 floor ($66,385 tribal). Guides quoting the old numbers understate what you can claim.

The February 2025 cancellation was real but superseded — Challenge America was restored, offering up to $10,000 for small organizations reaching underserved communities, for projects beginning June 1, 2027. Confirm the current deadline on arts.gov.

Real terminations hit in April 2025, but a federal court restored grants in May 2026 and FY26 appropriations level-funded the state and jurisdictional humanities councils. No council closed. 'NEH grants are gone' content is stale.