The Arkansas State Library receives funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the Library Services and Technology Act Grants to States Program. The Arkansas State Library uses the Grants to States federal funding to support statewide projects, which serve libraries of all types throughout the state. To receive these funds, the State Library must provide matching funds and meet the requirements of Maintenance of Effort.
LSTA funds may be used for, but are not limited to, personnel, equipment, materials, supplies, printing, travel and training to support programs and activities to assist in meeting the goals of the IMLS. All spending complies with federal regulations and guidelines, along with IMLS guidance, to ensure the appropriate expenditure of LSTA funds.
The overall purposes of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) are to:
- Enhance coordination among federal programs that relate to library and information services;
- Promote continuous improvement in library services in all types of libraries in order to better serve the people of the United States;
- Facilitate access to resources in all types of libraries for the purpose of cultivating an educated and informed citizenry;
- Encourage resource sharing among all types of libraries for the purpose of achieving economical and efficient delivery of library services to the public;
- Promote literacy, education, and lifelong learning and to enhance and expand the services and resources provided by libraries, including those services and resources relating to workforce development, 21st century skills, and digital literacy skills;
- Enhance the skills of the current library workforce and to recruit future professionals to the field of library and information services;
- Ensure the preservation of knowledge and library collections in all formats and to enable libraries to serve their communities during disasters;
- Enhance the role of libraries within the information infrastructure of the United States in order to support research, education, and innovation; and
- Promote library services that provide users with access to information through national, state, local, regional, and international collaborations and networks.
For additional information, please contact the Arkansas State Library at the information provided in the contact section of this posting.