FEDERAL AGENCY:

OFFICE OF MUSEUM SERVICES, INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES, NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES

AUTHORIZATION:

Library Services and Technology Act; Museum and Library Services Act of 1996, Title II, Public Law 104-208.

OBJECTIVES:

To consolidate Federal library services programs; to stimulate excellence and promote access to learning and information resources in all types of libraries for individuals of all ages; to promote library services that provide all users access to information through State, regional, and international electronic networks; to provide linkages among and between libraries; and to promote targeted library services to people of diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, to individuals with disabilities, and to people with limited functional literacy or information skills.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Formula Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

To make grants to State library administrative agencies which shall expend funds, either directly or through subgrants, for: (1) Establishing or enhancing electronic linkages among or between libraries; (2) electronically linking libraries with educational, social, or information services; (3) assisting libraries in accessing information through electronic networks; (4) encouraging libraries in different areas, and encouraging different types of libraries to establish consortia and share resources; or (5) paying costs for libraries to acquire or share computer systems and telecommunications technologies; and (6) targeting library and information services to persons having difficulty using a library and to underserved urban and rural communities, including children from birth through age 17 from families with incomes below the poverty line.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   State library administrative agencies which have authority to administer Federal funds, together with participating libraries, and have financial resources sufficient to match Federal funds may apply.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Users of libraries and information services will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation:   A 5-Year State Plan must accompany the program application.

Pre-application Coordination:   This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs". An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the Single Point of Contact in the State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. The standard application forms as furnished by IMLS must be used for this program.

Application Procedure:   To qualify for a grant, States must submit for approval by the Director, IMLS, a 5-Year State Plan as defined in Section 224 of the Act. The Plans are submitted directly to the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Office of Library Services, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Room 802, Washington, DC 20506.

Award Procedure:   Grants are awarded to State library administrative agencies.

Deadlines:   Revisions to the 5-Year Plan are due April 1, 2003. Revisions should be submitted, in the form of an amendment, and only if there are substantive changes to the 5-Year Plan that was due on July 31, 2002.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   A time has not been specified.

Appeals:   If IMLS determines that the State Plan does not meet the requirements of LSTA, the Director shall notify the State. During this process the State has the opportunity for a hearing.

Renewals:   A new State Plan is required every 5 years.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Grants to States are based on the most recent total population from the Bureau of the Census, but with a $340,000 minimum for the 50 States, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, and $40,000 minimum for the other outlying areas. The Federal share is 66 percent and the State matching requirement is 34 percent.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   All funds are awarded to each State upon the approval of the 5-Year State Plan. Funds must be expended by the end of the fiscal year following the year of allotment.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   The IMLS requires annual financial and narrative reports from each State library administrative agency. Each agency must independently evaluate and report to IMLS regarding the activities assisted under this program prior to the end of the 5-Year State Plan.

Audits:   State and local entities that expend $300,000 or more in Federal funds shall have a single audit conducted for that fiscal year in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards. Entities expending less than $300,000 are exempt, but records must be available for review by the officials of the Federal awarding agency, the pass-through entity, and the General Accounting Office.

Records:   Financial records are expected to be retained for five years after the date of submission of the final expenditure report.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   59-0301-0-1-503.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $135,366,938; FY 02 est $148,939,000; and FY 03 est $149,014,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   The formula determining the assistance is based on population.

For fiscal year 2002, the State Library Program made 59 awards totaling $149,014,000.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

The fiscal year 1998 State Grant Program guidelines for the 5-Year State Plan were published for comments in the Federal Register, February 4, 1997. Contact the website for the latest program data at http://www.imls.gov.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:  
Robin Dale 955 L'Enfant Plaza North, SW Suite 4000, Washington, District of Columbia 20024 Email: rdale@imls.gov Phone: 202-653-4650

Web Site Address:  
http://www.imls.gov

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

The State Library Program funded programs that promote access to learning and information resources of all types of libraries for individuals of all ages.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Not applicable.