Dear colleagues:

The CT State Library’s Division of Library Development is pleased to announce the availability of approximately $75,000 for LSTA grants in two categories:

1. One-year literacy grants will provide up to $7,500 to assist libraries with creating strategic, sustainable partnerships and lifelong learning programs that address the seven literacies in their communities. The seven literacies are described in the Division's 2018-2022 LSTA Five-Year Plan as basic, early, civic/social, digital/information, financial, health, and legal literacy.

The deadline for literacy grant applications is 4:00 pm on April 9, 2020. Grant programs and spending must occur between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021.

2. Planning grants will provide up to $5,000 to assist libraries with planning initiatives, such as to explore new services, assess and address the needs of changing population and patron bases, develop partnerships and collaboration, or write new strategic plans or long-range master plans. Libraries must have completed the Best Practices for CT Public Libraries self-assessment and at least 3 steps of the Aspen Action Guide and must submit the results with their grant applications. Projects must include a community needs assessment component, such as a survey, focus groups, interviews, etc.

Rolling deadlines for planning grants will be four weeks before each scheduled State Library Board (SLB) meeting. Upcoming deadlines are in February and April.

Eligibility:

Principal public libraries as well as school, academic, and special libraries are eligible to apply. Libraries may submit only one application per category. A local match of 25% is required.

All applicants must attend an information session covering application instructions, regulations, and fiscal management. Upcoming sessions through February are listed on the Continuing Education calendar at http://cslib.libcal.com/, and additional sessions will be offered throughout the year.

This is a competitive grant program, and not all applicants will be awarded funding. Priority points will be awarded to libraries not receiving LSTA grants in the past 5 years and to libraries with distressed community status.

Applications, related information, and particulars about reporting requirements are online at https://libguides.ctstatelibrary.org/dld/lstagrants.

LSTA and IMLS

Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds are provided through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (http://www.imls.gov), the primary source of federal support for the nation’s approximately 120,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. The mission of IMLS is to is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Their grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive.

For further information about LSTA grant opportunities, please do not hesitate to contact Christine Gauvreau, LSTA Coordinator, at 860-704-2224 or Christine.Gauvreau@ct.gov.

Best,
Kym

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