ILLINOIS STATE LIBRARY

Library Services – Federal Library Services Fund

Purpose and Outcomes

Grants are awarded under the Federal Library Services and Technology Act, P.L. 104-208; the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act of 1965, P.L. 89-209 and from discretionary awards of the Institute of Museum and Library Services pursuant to 20 USC 9101 et seq.

For example, the Secretary of State/Illinois State Library awards grants using federal funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, such as the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants, for a sustainable impact on library services for residents of Illinois.

Grant projects engage Illinois residents through library technology, programs and services for lifelong learning, and services to persons having difficulty using libraries.

Projects are justified by local community need and engagement to:

• Provide opportunities that support lifelong learning and information fluency to address the diverse needs of Illinois residents of all ages
• Provide access to resources, technologies and information, both virtual and tangible
• Further a literate Illinois by encouraging reading for recreation or education
• Facilitate the ability of libraries to lead their communities through planning, research, innovation, partnerships, best practices, and discovery to improve the quality of life for Illinoisans
• Recruit and educate the next generation of librarians and assist in the professional development of librarians
• Address challenges faced by libraries with new tools, research findings, models, services, practices, or alliances that can be widely used, adapted, scaled, or replicated to extend the benefits of federal investment.

FY2012 Appropriation

• $7,000,000 Federal Library Services Fund

Range of Award

• $1,000 - $1,500,000

Eligible Applicants

Specific offerings may limit eligibility:

1. Illinois libraries of all types recognized by the State Library as being full members in an Illinois regional library system
2. Illinois regional library systems as defined by Illinois Compiled Statutes
3. Illinois library professional organizations, (e.g.: Illinois Library Association) and consortia recognized by the State Library

Targeted Program Participants

• Justified by local community need identified by the applicant

Legal Authority

• 20 U.S.C. Chapter 72, Subchapter II
• 15 ILCS 320/7 (g)

Program Impact in FY2011

Total Dollars Awarded

• $6,520,136 federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds

Number of Grants Awarded

109 FY2011 grants were awarded:

• 79 public libraries were awarded 95 grants
• 3 academic libraries were awarded 3 grants
• 3 multi-type regional library systems were awarded 5 grants
• 1 library organization was awarded one grant
• Forty-one projects (38%) reported outcome-based evaluation totaling
• Thirteen projects (12%) had statewide impact
• Forty six projects (42%) involved partnerships

Number of People Served

• 12,910,409 Statewide services impact the entire state of Illinois

FY2010 and FY2011

Secretary White's longstanding commitment to excellent library service to the residents of our state remains a top priority. In order to minimize the impact of the FY2010 across the board 50% reduction in state GRF grants spending to long-standing library programs such as delivery, our office allocated Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant funds from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to provide some relief to libraries. In FY2010 and FY2011, the Secretary of State/Illinois State Library shuttered the LSTA competitive grant program. Funds from IMLS were instead used to lessen the effect of the cuts and primarily used to fund the landmark program of delivery of library materials for the citizens of Illinois and maintain critical resource sharing services, Project Next Generation programs, Penny Severns Summer Family Literacy programs, Adult Literacy programs and a percentage of the Public Library Per Capita Grants.

As a direct result, in FY2011 Illinois' required maintenance of effort (state dollars in support of the federal LSTA priorities) decreased thus reducing the federal award proportionally. To prevent further reduction of federal funding in FY2012, the State Library filed and was granted a one-time waiver. Future erosion of state dollars will continue to reduce the required maintenance of effort with a corresponding negative impact on the federal LSTA award to Illinois.

FY2011 Vignettes from Public Library Per Capita Grants funded with LSTA

Huntley Area Public Library - A group of about fifteen members of a job-networking group visited the library for a tour and program related to our job assistance collection and resume writing software. Over the next few weeks, we had many phone calls from attendees who had lined up their first interviews in several months, and they were appreciative of the resources the library had to offer. Several of them have found jobs.

Cahokia Public Library - One of our English as a second language mothers began using the library as a source for English speaking skills. She also began to ask the librarians for assistance with some paperwork she was completing to begin working on her citizenship. She had not realized the wealth of materials and assistance she could find at the library in her quest to become a U.S. citizen.

For more information about Federal Library Services Fund grant programs, please call 217-782-7848.