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2026-2027 Zip Books

CA State Library · 164850

Eligibility details

The only eligible applicants are California public libraries. A public branch library should apply to participate through its jurisdiction, not as a specific location within the jurisdiction.

Matching funds & resources

Source matching-funds field: Not Required.

Matching funds and leveraged resources are different requirements. Read the description and reviewed rules below before determining resource commitments.

About this opportunity

The Zip Books program is an alternative model for interlibrary loan service that bridges the gaps between a library’s patron request service, a normal acquisitions process, and an outreach/home delivery service. It is based on a project called “Zip Books—Digital Library of Northern California,” conducted by the Butte, Shasta, and Humboldt County Libraries under a FY 2011/12 LSTA grant from the California State Library. The Zip Books program is currently supported with California Library Services Act funds from the state of California. Under the Zip Books program, patrons request books that the library does not own. The library then orders the book from Amazon, and the book is shipped directly to the patron’s home. When the patron is finished with the book, the book is returned to the library and added to the collection. Please note, the recently passed state budget does not contain money for the Zip Books program. The State Library is unable to award grants to libraries that applied for funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. We want to express our appreciation for the time and effort your library team put into your 2026-2027 Zip Books applications. If you have any questions, please contact Reed Strege, Library Programs Administrator, at reed.strege@library.ca.gov.

Funding geography: This opportunity is for public libraries in California.

Funding instrument: Grant. Issuing jurisdiction: California. This is not a geographic eligibility determination.