Grants to States

 

The Grants to States program supports efforts across the nation to provide access to information and educational resources in a variety of formats, in all types of libraries, for individuals of all ages. Supported initiatives and services address individuals needs for education, lifelong learning, workforce development, economic and business development, health information, critical thinking skills, and digital, financial, and other types of literacies.

Active 45.310 The Institute of Museum and Library Services A - Formula Grants Fiscal Year 2015 63 awards made in FY15.
Fiscal Year 2021 IMLS made 59 standard awards. See https://www.imls.gov/grants/grants-state/five-year-evaluations for sample projects and accomplishments by state.
Fiscal Year 2023 IMLS made 59 awards. See https://www.imls.gov/grants/grants-state/five-year-evaluations for sample projects and accomplishments by state. 20 USC Chapter 72 Museum and Library Services Act of 2018 U.S.C. § 9101-9176; in particular § 9121 (Purpose), § 9141 (Grants to States)
Public Law 115-410
Grants to States authorizes the provision of funds to State Library Administrative Agencies to expend directly or through subgrants or cooperative agreements for the expansion of services for learning and access to information and educational resources. The 59 established State Library Administrative Agencies may apply for Grants to States funds. A State Library Administrative Agency is the official agency of a State charged by law with the extension and development of public library services throughout the State. State Library Administrative Agencies may distribute the funds through competitive subawards to, or cooperative agreements with, public, academic, research, school or special libraries or consortia. Through activities and projects funded, beneficiaries include the general public. Not applicable. Preapplication coordination is required. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. To receive funds under the Grants to State Library Administrative Agencies program, each State Library Administrative Agency must submit to the Director of IMLS a State Plan detailing certain goals, assurances, and procedures for a five-year period. A State Plan is a document that identifies a State's library needs, sets forth the activities to be taken toward meeting the identified needs supported with the assistance of Federal funds made available under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), and provides assurances that the officially designated State Library Administrative Agency has the fiscal and legal authority and capability to administer all aspects of any award under the Grants to State Library Administrative Agencies program. The State Plan must also provide assurances for establishing the State's policies, priorities, criteria and procedures necessary to the implementation of all programs under the LSTA. The State Plan should be organized in the order of the requirements listed in the guidelines, available at imls.gov, and submitted as a PDF document to stateprograms@imls.gov. IMLS approves State Plans that meet the requirements as set out in the guidelines available at imls.gov and provide satisfactory assurances and certifications that the provisions of the State Plan will be carried out. Once IMLS approves a State Plan, IMLS sends a letter to the applicant stating that the State Plan has been approved. States may then distribute the funds through competitive subawards or cooperative agreements with eligible entities. March 22, 2027 to June 30, 2027 Each State Library Administrative Agency may submit a Five-Year Plan at the beginning of a five-year cycle. The current cycle is 2023-2027, and the next is 2028-2032. From 90 to 120 days. Once IMLS approves the Five-Year Plan, a State can receive annual allotments for the five-year period covered by the Plan. Awards are made annually with a two-year period of performance. At any given time, a State will have two partially overlapping active grants, but each must be tracked and reported separately. Not applicable. Not applicable. The State Plan should include a mission statement; a needs assessment; a listing of goals; descriptions of supporting projects including details of what will be done for whom, using what procedures, the benefit or outcome expected, and how IMLS funds will be used; a timeline for program activities; a crosswalk that maps each goal to specific focal areas and corresponding intents; a description of coordination efforts; an evaluation plan describing the methodology that will be used to evaluate project success; a description of procedures that will be used to involve stakeholders in developing, implementing, and evaluating the State Plan; a description of the channels that will be used to communicate about the State Plan; a description of the procedures for tracking performance; and a series of required certifications and assurances. Grants may be used for: (1) expanding services for learning and access to information and educational resources in a variety of formats, in all types of libraries, for individuals of all ages in order to support such individuals’ needs for education, lifelong learning, workforce development, and digital literacy skills; (2) establishing or enhancing electronic and other linkages and improved coordination among and between libraries and entities, for the purpose of improving the quality of and access to library and information services; (3) (A) providing training and professional development, including continuing education, to enhance the skills of the current library workforce and leadership, and advance the delivery of library and information services and; (B) enhancing efforts to recruit future professionals to the field of library and information services; (4) developing public and private partnerships with other agencies and community-based organizations; (5) targeting library services to individuals of diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, to individuals with disabilities, and to individuals with limited functional literacy or information skills; (6) 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; (7) developing library services that provide all users access to information through local, State, regional, national, and international collaborations and networks; and (8) carrying out other activities consistent with the purposes set forth in Section 9121 of the Museum and Library Services Act, as described in the State Library Administrative Agency’s plan. Performance Reports: See https://www.imls.gov/sites/default/files/imlsstateprogramreportingrequirements.pdf for details on Performance Report requirements. Reports are due according to the reporting schedule provided as part of the official award notification. Reports must be submitted online using the State Program Report system. Not applicable. Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other project records must be retained for three years following the submission of the final financial report. Statutory Formula: Title 20 USC Museum and Library Services Act of 2018 Chapter 72 Part 9131(b) (for matching) 9133(c)(1)(A)(i) and 9133(c) (2) for MOE Public Law 115-410

Matching is mandatory. Statutory Formula: Matching Requirements: The amount a State receives under this program consists of a minimum allotment set by Congress (20 USC 9131 (b)) plus an additional amount based on the most current published population estimates available the first day of the federal fiscal year from the Bureau of the Census. The federal share is 66 percent and the state matching requirement is 34 percent.

This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details. Additional Information: IMLS's authorizing legislation requires a State "maintenance of effort" ("MOE"). Under a maintenance of effort provision, a State is required, as a condition of eligibility for Federal funding, to maintain its financial contribution to a program at not less than the amount of its contribution for some prior time period. A maintenance of effort formula ensures that Federal assistance results in an increased level of library-related activity and that a State does not simply replace State dollars with Federal dollars over time. IMLS's legislation provides that the amount otherwise payable to a State for a fiscal year pursuant to an allotment shall be reduced if the level of State expenditures for the previous fiscal year is less than the average of the total of such expenditures for the three fiscal years preceding that previous fiscal year. At the beginning of a five-year cycle, all State Library Administrative Agencies submit a Five-Year Plan that outlines state goals aligning with the Grants to States priorities of the Library Services and Technology Act. Once IMLS approves the Five-Year Plan, states can receive annual allotments for the five-year period covered by the Plan, currently 2023-2027. Funds are released as advances or reimbursement in response to requests for payment. None/Not specified. Connie Bodner
955 L'Enfant Plaza North, SW
Suite 4000
Washington, DC 20024 US
cbodner@imls.gov
Phone: 202-653-4636

Sandra Narva
955 L'Enfant Plaza North, SW
Suite 4000
Washington, DC 20024 USA
snarva@imls.gov
Phone: 202-653-4634 https://www.imls.gov/grants/grant-programs/grants-states 59-0300-0-1-503 (Formula Grants) FY 22$168,803,000.00; FY 23 est $180,000,000.00; FY 24 est $180,000,000.00; FY 21$168,803,000.00; FY 20$166,803,000.00; FY 17 est $154,848,000.00; FY 15$154,848,000.00; FY 16 est $154,500,000.00; - FY2022 awards ranged from $68,125 to $15,642,120. Average = $2,861,068. FY2023 awards ranged from $108,317 to $15,905,100. Average = $3,050,847. In FY2024, the range and average are likely to be similar to those of FY2023. 2 CFR Part 200. 20 USC Chapter 72 Museum and Library Services Act of 2018, ? 9101-9176; in particular ? 9121 (Purpose), ? 9141 (Grants to States). More information is available online at https://www.imls.gov/grants/grant-programs/grants-states or upon request from IMLS, 955 L'Enfant Plaza North, SW, Suite 4000, Washington DC 20024-2135. See the IMLS website at www.imls.gov for the most current program information. Fiscal Year 2015 Visit the IMLS website at www.imls.gov to search awarded grants.
Fiscal Year 2016 Visit the IMLS website at www.imls.gov to search awarded grants.
Fiscal Year 2023 Visit imls-spr.imls.gov/Public/Projects to find projects funded through Grants to State Library Administrative Agencies by state, fiscal year, population served, partners, library type, and other criteria. Visit https://www.imls.gov/grants/grants-state/state-profiles to find highlights of funded projects by state.