Play is essential to a young child’s wellbeing and to their cognitive, social, and emotional development. The Play for All initiative will help California public libraries design and create family play spaces and offer access to play programs for children ages zero to eight.
Participating libraries commit to:
  • Have one library representative attend the Reimagining School Readiness session at the CLA Annual Conference in Riverside on October 22, 2026, 8:30am-10:00am (travel reimbursement available).
  • Participate in approximately five virtual Community of Practice sessions to share program ideas, resources, and best practices.
  • Provide play spaces and play-based programs with and for their community (reimbursement up to $20,000 per library jurisdiction).
  • Engage in professional development training centered on the topic of play.
  • Survey participating caregivers to measure the impact of Play for All programs. Survey questions will be provided by the project team.
Program Details:

Libraries may use funds to create new play spaces at the library, enhance existing play spaces at the library, and/or host play-based programs for children and families at the library or out in the community.

Reimbursement funds can be used to support:
  • Supplies such as mobile, child-friendly furniture and furnishings, manipulatives, and materials to create play spaces for young children.
  • Services for families/caregivers such as workshops and presentations on play provided by educational presenters, community experts, or community organizations. (Funds may not be used for staff time.)
  • Marketing or promotion of play resources and programs.
  • Any additional allowable expenditures that help libraries provide young children access to play.
If requests exceed available funds, the California Poverty Measure will be considered in the selection process.

To Apply for Play for All 2026-2027 Complete the Form Below

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1. Which type of library do you work in? (Required.)

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2. Name of Library Jurisdiction or Affiliated Tribe. (Required.)

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3. Primary Contact’s Name (Required.)

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5. Secondary Contact’s Name (Required.)

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7. Describe your library’s plans to provide opportunities for play in your community. (Required.)

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8. Describe your community’s need for access to play opportunities. (Required.)

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9. Describe your library’s plans to involve your community in the design or planning of play spaces and/or programs. (Required.)

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10. Total amount requested (not to exceed $20,000). Include any supplies, services and/or marketing. Request only the amount of funds your library commits to spending. (Required.)

Provide a breakdown and description of your request for funds as it relates to your Play for All plans. (If you will not be spending in a particular category respond with a n/a or zero.)

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11. Supplies total and description (Required.)

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12. Services total and description (Required.)

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13. Marketing total and description (Required.)

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14. Space is available for a second staff person from each participating library to attend the “Reimagining School Readiness” super session at the CLA Annual Conference in Riverside on Thursday, October 22, 2026, 8:30am to 10:00am. (Travel reimbursement will not be available for this second library staff person.)

If selected, please indicate if your library will send a second representative. (Required.)

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15. Please confirm: (Required.)

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16. Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

For questions or additional information, please contact play4all@cla-net.org.
Play for All is a project of California Library Association in partnership with the California State Library. This project is supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

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