Idaho Commission for Libraries

Responses to the 2009-2010 Public Library Funding & Technology Access survey at www.plinternetsurvey.org increased significantly in the last week. A big thank you to those who have completed it!

Please help the Idaho library community document our growing needs for technology and connectivity by participating in the 2009-2010 Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study online survey, open through November 6, 2009 at www.plinternetsurvey.org.

What is this study?

It certainly seems the season for construction - both real and virtual! The SLD website will be down for an upgrade until 6 a.m. PDT or 7 a.m. MDT on Monday, September 14.

You may be aware that legislation was passed that created the Idaho Education Network*. Public libraries are included in this legislation. What this means, in a practical sense, is that the State of Idaho is committed to a build-out of bandwidth that is necessary to provide educational opportunities to schools and other entities such as public libraries.

Now that you have decided which road to take on your continuing education journey, you may have also discovered you need some financial assistance. Here are some resources to consider:

Continuing Education Grants for Libraries (ICFL)

If you have received your funding commitment letter for 2009-2010, you can file Form 486 (Receipt of Service Confirmation Form) at any time. The deadline is October 28 (or 120 days after you receive the funding commitment, whichever is later), but why wait until the last minute? It can be filed online at http://www.sl.universalservice.org/menu.asp.

The FY 2010 Library Services and Technology Act.(LSTA) Allocation Plan is posted on this website under Funding. This document is a brief overview of Idaho's LSTA grant programs and the Eligibility Checklist provides information for potential applicant libraries to verify their eligibility to apply.

In the past decade there has been a steady decline in the number of library levy issues passing in elections. George Needham of OCLC in his Keynote presentation to the Idaho Library Association covered 5 ideas to help libraries change their standing in their communities; to encourage more support of those initiatives.

Here are two different grants that may provide an opportunity for your community to preserve its cultural heritage.

Why should librarians tap into possibly unstable electronic formats and spend the time to learn how to use it? Well, according to the latest OCLC Report, "From Awareness to Funding: A study of library support in America," those investments may lead to stable funding.

Among the findings from the report: