White Awards $3.4 Million In LSTA Grants To Libraries,
Library Systems & Museums
SPRINGFIELD — Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White has awarded FY07 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants totaling $3.4 million to nearly 500 libraries, library systems and museums containing libraries in Illinois.
"LSTA funds encourage our libraries to be creative and innovative," White said. "Illinois librarians work hard to identify specific local needs and use these funds to address those needs. Over the years LSTA grants have produced hundreds of new programs in our state's more than 4,000 libraries, regional library systems and museums.
"Our librarians are always looking to the future, and looking for new ways to serve our patrons. LSTA grants help provide our libraries with some of the financial resources they need to remain our state's most reliable sources of information."
White said this year's LSTA grants were awarded in six categories:
- Bridging the Gap Between Community and Collection--This grant is intended to "bridge the gap" between the needs of a specific audience within the library community and the library's non-fiction materials collection. Applicants identify a specific group of patrons or students whose needs are not being met by the library's materials. The applicant recommends a solution to address the need by developing an effective non-fiction collection, and an activity to promote the new materials to the identified target audience.
- Bring in a Trainer- This grant is intended to help libraries deal with new and continuous challenges. With the help of a trainer, library staff, boards of trustees, faculty, patrons or students will learn more about library related topics and issues to better serve patrons.
- Digital Imaging-- Digital Imaging grants allow libraries to create Internet-ready electronic versions of their materials and collections, specifically Illinois-related historical and cultural materials. Types of materials that may be digitized include archival materials, manuscripts, diaries, personal journals; photos and film; handwritten musical scores, maps, posters, drawings, and prints; sound recordings such as oral histories and tapes; and historic newspapers.
- Emerging Technologies and Methodologies-These grants are intended for the research, development and implementation of new methods and strategies to enhance the quality of library activities, programs and services for library patrons in the applicant's community. Applicants are encouraged to embrace emerging technologies and incorporate innovative methods to address the diverse needs of library patrons.
- Demonstration of Public Library Services-- Demonstration projects expand or create the public library's boundaries and services. The grant is designed to encourage the expansion of public library services to new areas. A demonstration must culminate in a referenda question for tax support.
- Developing a Statewide Technology Toolkit-- Regional library systems are encouraged to collaborate and cooperate on a statewide initiative to enhance library services using new technologies such as blogs, RSS, Wikis and instant messaging. Together, the regional library systems will focus on research and development, testing and training that will have an impact statewide. Systems will work with teams of pilot project libraries to introduce new technologies into Illinois libraries. These teams will create templates that can be replicated statewide, and develop standard policies that can be duplicated by any library in Illinois.
LSTA funding is awarded to states by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The Illinois State Library administers LSTA funding awarded to the state of Illinois each year, and issues grants to applicants who seek funding as part of a competitive grant program. LSTA grants are available for the development of projects that specifically provide and focus on library service, new initiatives and library activities. All types of libraries-academic, public, school and special-and regional library systems and museums with libraries are eligible for funding.
LSTA Grants To Libraries, Library Systems & Museums
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