THE FRIENDS OF THE NATIONS’ LIBRARIES
Grants, generally for between £200 and £20,000 are available to regional, national and specialist libraries, archives and museums across the UK for the acquisition of books, manuscripts and archives that they could not otherwise afford.
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o Application deadline: SUNDAY 1st JUNE 2025.
o Funder: The Friends of the Nations’ Libraries (founded 1931. Charity number 313020. Total value of all grants awarded during the year ended 31 December 2023: £1,349,885 (2022: £1,351,355)).
o Who can apply: regional, national and specialist libraries, archives and museums across the UK.
o Key words: Libraries, Archives, Museums, Books, Manuscripts. Heritage, Literature, Art, Architecture, Music, United Kingdom.
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The Friends of the Nations’ Libraries helps regional, national and specialist libraries, archives and museums acquire books, manuscripts and archives that they could not otherwise afford.
The Charity provides grants, usually for between £200 and £20,000, to promote the acquisition by national and regional libraries and archives of printed books, manuscripts and records of historical, literary, artistic, architectural, musical or such like interest and to assist the libraries in any other way which its trustees consider appropriate.
Its charitable objectives are:
“The purchase of books and manuscripts as gifts to the national libraries. The expression ‘national libraries’ is understood primarily to mean the British Museum and the national libraries of Scotland and Wales, but the Charity will also assist university, municipal and other libraries to secure printed books or manuscripts which have a special interest for them.”
A total of 60 grants were offered to applicants during the year ended 31st December 2023, the same number as in 2022, as follows:
o 17 grants were awarded to county archive services.
o 8 grants were awarded to to national libraries, museums or heritage bodies.
o 8 grants were awarded to non-national museums.
o 7 grants were awarded to specialist collecting institutions, and
o 6 grants were awarded to university libraries.
Further information about the Charity’s activities can be found in its annual report and on its website, where an online application form can be found.
The Charity considers applications at Trustees’ meetings in March, June and November. Applications should be made by the 1st March, 1st June and 1st November annually.
The next deadline for applications is therefore on Sunday 1st June 2025.
Contact details for the Charity are:
Mrs Nell Hoare MBE FSA FIIC
Secretary
The Friends of the Nations’ Libraries
PO BOX 4291
Reading
Berkshire
RG8 9JA
Email: admin@fnlmail.org.uk