Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries

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 $14 million to more than 2,700 schools in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and military bases. These funds have purchased approximately 750,000 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. Most recently, after the devastation we have seen from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria as well the California wildfires, the 2017 Disaster Relief Initiative dedicates more than $2 million in grants to affected schools.