The Illinois State Library has received several inquiries from libraries asking if the State Library will be offering the competitive Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants during Fiscal Year 2011 that began July 1.

Last year the General Assembly’s budget process resulted in severe cuts to programs such as the public library per capita, school library per capita, and system area per capita grant programs. In order to minimize the impact of these cuts to longstanding programs such as delivery and resource sharing, Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White decided to use LSTA grant funds from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to provide some budget relief to libraries.

The Illinois State Library will once again shutter the LSTA competitive grant program and use LSTA funds to help fund programs such as delivery and critical resource sharing services.