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LSTA Grant Update

Grants, ISL E-news, Illinois State Library, LSTA Grant Update
LSTA Funding Update
October 19th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

In July, the Illinois State Library reported that the federal allotment of Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding for all states had been reduced for federal FY2011 because of budget cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). They also reported that the Illinois State Library filed a waiver request for its Maintenance of Effort level, a level that could have a negative impact on our federal FY2013 allotment.

This week, the Illinois State Library received news that their request for a waiver was granted by IMLS. Illinois, along with almost every other state, has seen a decline in financial aid for libraries. In accordance with federal regulation, IMLS must reduce individual state LSTA allotments by an equivalent percent; however, IMLS can grant a waiver to individual states under the law.
Grants, Illinois State Library, LSTA Grant Update
LSTA Final Report Due This Week!
October 12th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

If your library received any grant award that was funded with Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds — whether a per capita, Penny Severns or other type of grant — there is an additional final report due no later than October 15.

This report should emphasize how patrons are using the programs and materials purchased and the value to these users. If you have any questions, please contact Karen Egan at kegan@ilsos.net.

The reporting form is posted online.
Grants, Illinois State Library, LSTA Grant Update
Final Report Due October 15: Grants Funded with LSTA Funds
September 30th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

If your library received any grant award that was funded with Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds — whether a per capita, Penny Severns or other type of grant — there is an additional final report due no later than October 15. The Illinois State Library includes the final reports in a comprehensive, annual state program report to the Institute of Museum & Library Services.

This report should emphasize how patrons are using the programs and materials purchased and the value to these users. If you have any questions, please email Karen Egan at kegan@ilsos.net. The reporting form is posted online.
Grants, Illinois State Library, LSTA Grant Update
Illinois State Library (ISL) Grants & Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Funding
July 22nd, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White and the ISL remain steadfast in their commitment to support Illinois libraries and library systems and the priorities of delivery, the automated consortial catalogs and the Talking Book programs. To fulfill this goal, in Fiscal Year 2012 (July 1, 2011-June 30, 2012), the ISL will once again suspend offerings traditionally supported by federal LSTA funding, specifically competitive grant programs, scholarships, and continuing education programs such as Synergy, the Small Public Library Management Institute and the Institute form School and Public Librarians. The ISL continuing education program, ILEAD U, is supported by a separate grant until 2012.

Unfortunately, funding delays will once again figure prominently into cash flow challenges for all ISL grantees between now and the end of the calendar year. The General Assembly has extended the period during which FY11 payments can be made until December 31, 2011. FY12 payments will not begin until after FY11 payments have been made.

Secretary White has maintained state grant funding for libraries (e.g. public library per capita, school district, literacy and construction grants) when other states have experienced much more severe cuts, and when any grant program is particularly vulnerable to cuts or total elimination. Additionally, Secretary White has secured grants from sources new to the ISL. Grants from both the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity have recently provided much needed materials and services to libraries to support direct patron needs. In addition, the Secretary has selected three strategically located public libraries for new videoconference packages; the Helen Matthes Library in Effingham, the Galesburg Public Library, and the Quincy Public Library. These packages will ease communication challenges brought about by the recent regional library system mergers. As reflected in the ISL’s Strategic Plan, Secretary White will continue to pursue other grant opportunities as allowed by ISL administrative capacity and authority from the General Assembly. At this time in our state’s fiscal crisis, the State Library applauds the efforts of the regional library systems to merge from ten to three (Reaching Across Illinois, Illinois Heartland and Chicago Public Library). The ISL hopes these mergers will, in the coming months, realize significant savings for administrative support.

For up-to-date budget and payment information, visit the Illinois Comptroller’s website, and particularly the Comptroller’s Quarterly.

LSTA Funding Outlook

The federal allotment of LSTA funding for all states has been reduced for federal FY2011 because of cuts to the budget of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Additionally, the ISL has filed a waiver for its Maintenance of Effort level, a level that could have a negative impact on our federal FY2013 allotment. Our state, along with almost every other state, has seen a decline in financial aid for libraries. As established by federal regulation, IMLS must reduce individual state LSTA allotments by an equivalent percent; IMLS can grant a waiver to individual states under the law. As they know more about this situation, they will inform the library community.

Illinois LSTA Numbers

Federal FY2009 allotment: $6,376,914
Federal FY2010 allotment: $6,520,136
Federal FY2011 allotment: $5,766,746 (reduced because of overall cuts to IMLS)
Federal FY2012 allotment: Unknown
Federal FY2013 allotment: Unknown; this is the allotment to which the waiver request applies.

More information on Illinois’ use of LSTA funding is located at three locations on the Illinois State Library website:

Long Range Plan

History of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA)

LSTA Projects
Grants, LSTA Grant Update
FY10 LSTA Final Reports
August 23rd, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?

Are you wrapping up your FY10 LSTA funded grant? The Illinois State Library reminds you to submit your final report by September 3, by email. The questions are posted on the ISL web site.
Grants, LSTA Grant Update
LSTA Grant Update from the Illinois State Library
July 26th, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?

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.
Grants, LSTA Grant Update
Root for Your Ancestors @ Your Library
June 29th, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?

WJIL contacted a number of FY2009 LSTA grant recipients to follow up on what has happened since the completion of their grant. ”Root for Your Ancestors @ Your Library” is the third in a series of articles that focus on what happens after the money is gone.

The Nashville Public Library in Nashville, Illinois partnered with the Washington County Historical Society to offer a series of history and genealogy programs called “Root for Your Ancestors @ Your Library.” The library applied for a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant and was awarded a grant of $14,813 in October 2008.

The target audience for this grant included adults, ages 45 and over, although some of the programs attracted people of all ages. The historical society did not have a meeting space large enough for their membership to hold regular programs. However, the public library was able to provide that space and had an established tradition of offering educational, informational, and recreational programs to the public.

The Nashville Public Library hoped through this grant to acquaint people with the technology and resources available to them at the library while working with the historical society to encourage people’s interests in genealogy and local history. To find out more about what happened to this grant after the money was gone read the full article on WJIL.
LSTA Grant Update, Standouts, Technology
Library Spotlight: Pekin Public Library
June 1st, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?

WJIL contacted a number of FY2009 LSTA grant recipients to follow up on what has happened since the completion of their grant. ”PePod: Pekin Programs on Demand” is the second in a series of articles that focus on what happens after the money is gone.

In 2008, Pekin Public Library Assistant Director Alissa Williams attended a session at the Public Library Association Conference, where the presenter challenged libraries to be as functional online as they are offline. When the 2009 LSTA Grants were announced, Williams decided the In Sync with Technology offering was the perfect way to rise to this challenge. Thus, PePOD was born.

PePod stands for Pekin Programs on Demand and makes library programs available to users anytime they want via podcasts. The library also started Storytime Anytime, which makes a video of storytime available on demand for parents and children. The Pekin Public Library partnered with the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce on the project, and the chamber recorded its monthly events, which the library uploaded to its website. PePod is also available via subscription in iTunes.

Currently, the library has 15 podcasts available, and usually one program a month is suitable for recording. All of the presenters have allowed their programs to be recorded and several were quite excited about the opportunity.

The library launched a new “On Demand” section of its website, which includes the PePod project. The library also offers Tumblebooks and other downloadable media databases. In the PePod section, users are able to comment on the podcasts.

Podcasts are recorded using a portable recorder and then edited using GarageBand. The library’s website vendor provided a complete identity package, which included opening jingles, as well as a PePod graphic. Editors use a standard opening and closing script, which provides consistency through each of the podcasts.

Find out more about this project and what happened after the money was gone in our most recent WJIL Library Spotlight.
Grants, LSTA Grant Update, Standouts
Library Spotlight: Julia Hull District Library
April 27th, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?

WJIL contacted a number of FY2009 LSTA grant recipients to follow up on what has happened since the completion of their grant. ”Mac & Windy Get Married: Bringing Library Technology into the 21st Century” is the first in a series of articles that focus on what happens after the money is gone.

In FY 2009 the Julia Hull District Library was the recipient of an LSTA grant called “Mac & Windy Get Married.” With the $21,700 awarded to the library, and matching contributions from their Friends of the Library and Stillman Valley Lion’s Club, they were able to purchase 16 MacBook (laptop) computers, software, and a digital projector, portable pull-up screen, mobile projector cart and laptop storage-charger cart.

The purpose of their grant was to educate older adults and senior citizens about current trends in computer technologies, including software programs and laptop hardware.

The library recognized a need in the community for such training among the grant target audience: of the library’s total cardholders, approximately one-third are over the age of 40, and 54 percent of cardholders were over the age of 50, qualifying them as Senior Citizens, according to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

Find out more about the success of this project and what happened after the money was gone in our most recent Library Spotlight.
LSTA Grant Update
LSTA Grant Update: Historic Preservation Enthusiasts Rejoice!
September 23rd, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

Among Illinois counties, Champaign County possesses unusually rich historical documentation, hosting a number of institutions dedicated to the collection and preservation of our community’s historical record. This fall, we are fortunate to see the release of a grant-funded project that serves as the first phase of a portal to digital content about our county, drawn from a variety of repositories in our community, called Historic Champaign County: Neighborhoods and Homes.

Developed by staff at the Champaign County Historical Archives at The Urbana Free Library, and hosted at the Illinois Digital Archives, the collection should be of great interest to historic preservation enthusiasts and architectural historians, but also makes available primary source material to a broad audience of students, genealogists, historians, and others interested in the history of east central Illinois.

Download the full update

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LSTA Grant Update

Grants, ISL E-news, Illinois State Library, LSTA Grant Update

LSTA Funding Update

Grants, Illinois State Library, LSTA Grant Update

LSTA Final Report Due This Week!

Grants, Illinois State Library, LSTA Grant Update

Final Report Due October 15: Grants Funded with LSTA Funds

Grants, Illinois State Library, LSTA Grant Update

Illinois State Library (ISL) Grants & Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Funding

Grants, LSTA Grant Update

FY10 LSTA Final Reports

Grants, LSTA Grant Update

LSTA Grant Update from the Illinois State Library

Grants, LSTA Grant Update

Root for Your Ancestors @ Your Library

LSTA Grant Update, Standouts, Technology

Library Spotlight: Pekin Public Library

Grants, LSTA Grant Update, Standouts

Library Spotlight: Julia Hull District Library

LSTA Grant Update

LSTA Grant Update: Historic Preservation Enthusiasts Rejoice!