2026 Infinite Sums Rural & Small Libraries Cohort Grant Program Overview

Grant applications are closed and recipients have been announced.

Funding Details

Each of the 20 selected libraries will receive a $10,000 grant. Funds may be used for:

Administrative costs (e.g: grant planning, reporting, back-up staffing coverage and staff hours for participating in cohort activities)
Programmatic expenses (e.g: staff time, supplies, marketing, outreach, refreshments, equipment rental, incentives, books, and games)

Non-allowable expenses: presenter fees, capital expenditures, and technology

Travel expenses for attending the 2026 ARSL Conference in Montgomery, AL.

Note: Travel for the January 2026 convening in New York will be reimbursed separately by the Simons Foundation.

Program Requirements

All three math inspired community library events must be hosted on the following dates:
- Pi Day – 3/14/2026
- Infinity Day – 8/8/2026
- Fibonacci Day – 11/23/2026
Applicants must be available to attend:
- Simons Foundation's Convening in New York City: 1/25–1/26
- ARSL 2026 Conference in Montgomery, AL: 9/17–9/19
Monthly virtual cohort sessions held on the second Tuesday of each month at 11:00 am PT / 2:00 pm ET (1 hour each)

Dec 10, 2025 – Kickoff Meeting
Feb 10, 2026
Mar 10, 2026
Apr 14, 2026
May 12, 2026
Jun 9, 2026
Jul 14, 2026
Aug 11, 2026
Oct 13, 2026
Nov 10, 2026
Dec 8, 2026
Program concludes – Jan 2027

Eligibility

This application is open to public libraries located in the United States.
501(c)(3) status is not required.
ARSL membership is not required.
Libraries must serve small and/or rural communities.

As a guide, the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) defines a rural community as one that is more than, or equal to, ten miles from an urbanized area (defined as a town/city with a population of 25,000 or greater) and small communities to have a population of 25,000 or less.
Many rural libraries serve communities in their surrounding area and thus may have a total service population that is greater than 25,000. As long as there are no towns/cities in or within 10 miles of your service area with a population of 25,000 or more, it would be eligible.
If libraries are part of a single state-wide institution or are organized into regional/county systems, as long as the library or branch that is applying serves a small/rural population, it would be eligible.
Libraries are welcome to contact [email protected] to confirm eligibility prior to submission.

Reporting Requirements

Each awardee will be asked to provide a brief final grant report of the program outcomes including number of attendees and photos.
Awardees will not be required to provide receipts for expenditures.
A marketing release will be required. ARSL and the Simons Foundation may use program highlights for their websites, newsletters or social media.

Selection Process

Applications will be evaluated using a standardized rubric.
Review conducted by ARSL’s Grants, Awards & Scholarships Committee.
All applicants will be notified of their outcome by the end of November.

About the Simons Foundation

This work is supported by the Simons Foundation and is part of its Infinite Sums initiative. For more information, visit infinitesums.simonsfoundation.org.

The Simons Foundation’s Science, Society & Culture division seeks to provide opportunities for people to forge a connection to science—whether for the first time or a lifetime. Through our initiatives, we work to inspire a feeling of awe and wonder, foster connections between people and science, and support environments that provide a sense of belonging. The Simons Foundation’s mission is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences. Since its founding in 1994 by Jim and Marilyn Simons, the foundation has been a champion of basic science through grant funding, support for research and public engagement. We believe in asking big questions and providing sustained support to researchers working to unravel the mysteries of the universe.