2025-26 Zip Books
At a glance
2025-26 Zip Books is a closed California state grant opportunity from CA State Library (State of California). The application deadline was May 28, 2025. Individual awards are listed as up to $35K, with $1M in total estimated funding. Applicant types listed as eligible include nonprofit, public agency and tribal government. It is listed on the California Grants Portal. Cost sharing is not required.
Summary assembled from the official notice's fields. The official notice governs.
Expected to open around April 2027
This program has posted at about the same time each year. If it follows its pattern, the next round should post between Mar 16, 2027 and Jun 4, 2027, with about 29 days to apply.
Based on 5 past postings: Jun 22, 2022, Apr 3, 2023, Apr 28, 2025, Apr 22, 2026 and earlier. Confidence: low. Agencies can change or skip a year; only the agency's posted notice is official. Watch it and we'll email you when the next round posts.
Key facts
- Apr 28, 2025Posted
- May 28, 2025Application deadline
- Opened
- Apr 28, 2025
- Close date
- May 28, 2025
- Award floor
- Not specified
- Award ceiling
- $35,000
- Est. total funding
- $1,000,000
- Expected awards
- Not specified
- Matching funds
- Not required
- Funding instrument
- Grant
Program details (as published on the California Grants Portal)
- Type
- Grant
- Funding source
- State — The Zip Books program is supported with California Library Services Act funds awarded by the State of California and administered by the California State Library. Awards will be contingent upon passage of the budget.
- Matching funds
- Not Required — The Zip Books program does not have a match requirement, though it is expected that libraries provide staff time to run the program.
- Funding method
- Advance(s)
- Estimated number of awards
- Dependant on number of submissions received, application process, etc.
- Award period
- 4/28/25-5/28/25
- Expected award announcement
- July 31,2025
- Letter of intent
- Not required
- Geography
- Applicants must be located in California.
- How to submit
- Online: https://gotomygrants.com/Public/Opportunities/Details/bf107ae2-671e-420d-a233-2b26445c35bb
Who can apply
Applicant categories as listed on the California Grants Portal. GrantsJunction maps them to detailed applicant types for search and matching.
- Nonprofit
- Public Agency
- Tribal Government
Additional information on eligibility (from the listing)
This grant opportunity is for public libraries or library affiliated non-profits such as public library friend groups or public library Foundations applying on behalf of the library. If you are a Tribal Government applying, the programs must be run through a public library.
A quick check against the listed applicant types — other requirements in the notice still apply.
Based on the published notice. Review the official notice for complete eligibility requirements.
What it funds
Purpose and description as published on the California Grants Portal.
Purpose
The Zip books program increases access to information in response to library patrons needs, especially those in rural areas.
Description
The Zip Books program provides library users with speedy access to books that are not available at their local libraries. A patron requests the item, the library purchases it from Amazon, and the book is shipped directly to the patron’s home. When finished, the patron returns the item to the library and the library adds it to the collection.
Past applications & awards
Historical data · not a predictionReported by the agency for this listing
- Fiscal year 2024–2595 applications · 94 awards
- Awards published
- 95
- Total awarded
- $793,294
- Median award
- $7,661 calculated
- Smallest – largest
- $1,000 – $17,600
Recipients by type: Public Agency (95)
Areas served: Statewide (95)
Largest awards to organizations
- Siskiyou County Free Library2025-26 Zip Books$17,600 · FY 2024–25
- Calaveras County Library2025-26 Zip Books$17,600 · FY 2024–25
- Kern County Library2025-26 Zip Books$16,920 · FY 2024–25
- Plumas County Library2025-26 Zip Books$16,400 · FY 2024–25
- Humboldt County Library2025-26 Zip Books$16,400 · FY 2024–25
- Del Norte County Library District2025-26 Zip Books$15,980 · FY 2024–25
- Sutter County Library2025-26 Zip Books$15,840 · FY 2024–25
- Riverside County Library System2025-26 Zip Books$15,840 · FY 2024–25
- Merced County Library2025-26 Zip Books$15,840 · FY 2024–25
- City Of Lincoln2025-26 Zip Books$15,840 · FY 2024–25
Program contact (as published)
Monica Rivas
monica.rivas@library.ca.gov
1-916-603-7159
Quick answers
Who is eligible to apply for “2025-26 Zip Books”?
The official listing names these applicant types as eligible: Nonprofit, Public Agency and Tribal Government. It adds: “This grant opportunity is for public libraries or library affiliated non-profits such as public library friend groups or public library Foundations applying on behalf of the library. If you are a Tribal Government applying, the programs must be run through a public library.” Additional restrictions may apply; review the full guidelines.
How much funding is available through “2025-26 Zip Books”?
Per the notice, individual awards are listed as up to $35k and total estimated program funding is $1,000,000.
How do I apply for “2025-26 Zip Books”?
Applications go directly to CA State Library, not through GrantsJunction. Submission: online at https://gotomygrants.com/Public/Opportunities/Details/bf107ae2-671e-420d-a233-2b26445c35bb. Read the program guidelines on the agency's site first; state programs set their own forms and registration requirements.
Related open opportunities
Other open California state opportunities, matched on agency, categories and wording.
Lunch at the Library Summer 2027
CA State Library- Award range
- Amount not specified
- Closes
- Ongoing
- Who can apply
- Nonprofit and Public Agency