2019 LSTA

The Institute of Museum and Library Services' Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Grants to States program is the largest source of federal funding support for library services in the United States. The Grants to States program allocates a base amount to each state plus a supplemental amount based on population. For each of the 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, the base amount is $680,000 each. You can see recent allotments for all the states here. 

The Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records (NSLAPR) uses Grants to State funds to meet LSTA specified priorities (20 U.S.C. § 9141) as well as Nevada's 5 Year Plan goals, either through statewide programs or competitive subgrants to eligible public, school, special, and academic libraries throughout Nevada. In order to remain eligibile for Grants to State LSTA funds, Nevada must meet statutory Matching and Maintenance of Effort (MOE) requirements.

LSTA funds help Nevada libraries solidify their roles as community educational centers, though planning, assessment, training, and partnerships, building capacity, and identifying user access needs. 

LSTA grant opportunities are available to all eligible Nevada libraries.

To be eligible to apply for LSTA funds, each applicant library and participant library must certify to the Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records (NSLAPR) that it meets all of the following eligibility criteria:

• Is supported by public revenues (51% or more) or is a non-profit institution or agency;
• Makes the collection accessible to its primary clientele organized according to a nationally accepted classification system;
• Participates in resource sharing through the Information Nevada program;
• Serves its primary clientele free of charge;
• Has a fixed location with regular, published hours of operation;
• Has one or more paid library staff; Has an annual budget with funds reserved for library materials and services;
• Has a current, written long range or strategic plan that is available for review. 

The applicant or participating library must also meet the following requirements:

• Public Libraries: Must meet the Minimum Standards for Public Libraries;
• School Libraries: The school district employs at least one certified library/media specialist;
• Academic Libraries: Be accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
• Library Consortia:
  • Be a Nevada local, regional, or statewide cooperative of library entities which provides for the systematic and effective coordination of resources of school, public, academic, and/or special libraries and information centers, for improved services for the clientele of such library entities [20 U.S.C. 9122(2)]; and
  • Have a formal organized structure that includes governance, membership, long range planning and regular funding components.
• Non-profit library related organization:
  • Be a non-profit entity registered with the Nevada Secretary of State; and
  • Have tax exempt status under the Internal Revenue Section 501(C)3.

These criteria were approved by the Nevada State Council on Libraries and Literacy in May 2008.