Funding

The work and funding of this initiative has been a cooperative venture of:

• Washington State Library (WSL) $221,500. It has also been recommended by the Library Council for 2003 in the amount of $113,500
• The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) $29,000
• Educational Service Districts (ESDs) $20,250
• Washington Library/Media Association (WLMA) $1,000

Have You Ever Had Questions About LSTA Grants?

Here’s some background information on where Washington State Library gets the funds it uses for library projects around the state, such as the K-12 Initiative. Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) is the funding for use by State Library Agencies and is authorized by the LSTA as contained within the Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Act of 1996, Public Law 104-208. The federal administering agency is the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Funding allocations are based on a population-based formula that supports one of the six purposes of LSTA. State libraries can expend these funds, either directly, or through subgrants to eligible libraries. A non-federal share is required from the state to receive the funding, which also has to be expended for library programs consistent with the purposes of LSTA.

The six purposes of LSTA, as currently adopted, are:

• Establishing or enhancing electronic linkages among or between libraries;
• Electronically linking libraries with educational, social, or information services;
• Assisting libraries in accessing information through electronic networks;
• Encouraging libraries in different areas, and encouraging different types of libraries, to establish consortia and share resources; or
• Paying costs for libraries to acquire or share computer systems and telecommunications technologies; and
• 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.

Since 1958, Washington State has received over $67.5 million from the current LSTA program or one of its predecessors, LSCA and LSA.

Re-authorization of LSTA legislation is required for the LSTA program to continue in FFY2003. WSL usually receives word from IMLS in late December or early January as to the amount of funding Washington State will be receiving.

We’ll know if the K-12 Library Initiative project will be funded for another year after Congress authorizes the FFY 2003 budget and IMLS notifies Washington State of their allocation. The Library Council of Washington makes recommendations through the State Librarian to the Secretary of State who makes the final award decision.