Domestic Excellence

Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries

“Once a child learns to use a library, the doors to learning are always open.”
—Mrs. Laura Bush

2,806

Schools have received grants

$16M+

Has been awarded to schools in funds

724K+

Estimated books and materials purchased with these funds

2

Mrs. Laura Bush's Recommended Reading List: Comfort Books
Article • August 2, 2018
1

Mrs. Laura Bush's Recommended Reading List: Intermediate Readers
Article • June 7, 2018
2

Mrs. Laura Bush's Recommended Reading List: Family Reading
Article • May 16, 2018

Providing grants to low-income and disaster-affected schools, allowing them to expand, update, and diversify their book and print collections.

A former librarian and teacher, Mrs. Laura Bush understands that limited financial resources often result in school leaders placing a lower priority on their school libraries.

Studies show that the quality of a school library has a major impact on reading test scores and academic success. Since 2002, the Laura Bush Foundation has awarded more than $16 million to more than 2,800 schools in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and military bases. These funds have purchased approximately 725,000 books and other reading materials.

Rebuilding Libraries Affected by 2017 Natural Disasters

After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries awarded grants of $10,000 to $75,000 to school libraries whose collections were damaged or destroyed in the hurricanes. After the devastation we saw from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria as well the California wildfires, the 2017 Disaster Relief Initiative dedicated more than $2 million in grants to affected schools.