Library Services & Technology Act (LSTA) Funding

What is LSTA?

Through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) provides funding to support library services in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Territories. In Arizona, those funds are administered by the Arizona State Library in the form of statewide initiatives and subgrants.

Before You Apply

• Know the Plan!
• Read Me First: Important Documents
• Workshops and Webinars

Apply for a Grant

Acknowledging IMLS and the Arizona State Library

Impact of LSTA Funds

• Congressional Fact Sheets
• Snapshots of Awarded Projects

BEFORE YOU APPLY

Know the Plan!

In order to receive the LSTA allotment from IMLS, the Arizona State Library creates a Five Year Plan that details its library service goals based on the LSTA purposes and priorities. Before you apply, read the Five Year Plan to ensure that your projects align with the goals in the Plan.

The goals for the Arizona LSTA grants are to:

• Support preservation and stewardship of information and encourage equitable access to information in a variety of formats.
• Support lifelong learning programs that help to develop life literacies, including digital/technological, workforce, parenting, health, and financial literacies.
• Support technology resources, staff skills, programs, and collections in libraries while addressing barriers to accessing these resources and services.
• Support the efforts of libraries to engage with community members from diverse backgrounds, foster connections with other community organizations, and collaborate with partners to contribute to community well-being.

Contact a Library Development Consultant to review your project idea!

Read Me First: Important Documents

• 2023-2027 Arizona LSTA Five Year Plan (PDF)
• 2025 LSTA Grant Guidelines  (PDF)
• 2024 LSTA Grant Guidelines (PDF)

Previous LSTA Guidelines (for historical reference only):

• 2023 LSTA Grant Guidelines (PDF)
• 2022 LSTA Grant Guidelines REVISED (PDF)
• 2021 LSTA Grant Guidelines (PDF)

Workshops and Webinars

The "Learn about LSTA Grants" webinar recording is available in the Academy for Arizona Library Staff and on the Arizona Libraries YouTube channel. Contact Melissa Kummen if you need assistance logging into the Academy.

APPLY FOR A GRANT

To begin the LSTA grant application process, read the Five Year Plan and the new LSTA grant guidelines. Check out the "Learn about LSTA Grants" webinar mentioned above.
 
Your project idea must align with one of the following Arizona LSTA goal categories from the Five Year Plan:

1. Information Preservation and Access
2. Informal Education
3. Institutional Improvements
4. Inclusive Communities

It's a good idea to contact a Library Development Consultant to discuss your project. If your proposed project is an express grant, check the grant guidelines to see which consultant you should reach out to.

When you are ready to apply:

1. Download a digital (Word) copy of each grant type you plan to apply for. For LSTA 2025, our new grant system does not allow saving your progress and logging back in. As such, it is recommended that applicants use the digital copy first to complete their application then copy over the contents to the online form.
2. Download a digital (Excel) copy of the LSTA 2025 Budget Form for Subgrants. You are required to upload a completed copy of this spreadsheet for each application you submit.
3. Complete the online application. Applications must be submitted by no later than end-of-day March 28, 2025. Grant awards will be announced May 16, 2025 with the earliest date to request funds being May 23, 2025.
4. As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

 LSTA 2025 Subgrants Online Applications:

• General Grant
• America250 Community Collections and Programming Express Grant
• Collections and Programming (CAP) Express Grant
• Staff Development Day Express Grant
• Wi-Fi Hotspot Lending Express Grant
• Writers in Residence in Libraries Express Grant
• XR in AZ Libraries Express Grant

Note: Grant awards subject to the availability of federal funding.

ACKNOWLEDGING IMLS AND THE ARIZONA STATE LIBRARY

All promotional materials resulting from an LSTA grant project must contain the following statement:

This project is supported by the Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records, a division of the Secretary of State, with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Este programa cuenta con el apoyo de la Biblioteca Estatal de Arizona, Archivos y Registros Públicos, una división de la Secretaria de Estado, con fondos federales del Instituto de Servicios de Museos y Bibliotecas.

Whenever possible, use the IMLS, Arizona Secretary of State, and State Library logos to help spread the word about your grant project. Be sure to save copies of your publicity to include with your final report.

IMPACT OF LSTA FUNDS

LSTA funding can help you make a difference! Through the competitive subgrant process, LSTA funding enables dozens of Arizona libraries every year to put new ideas into practice and to enhance existing services. Regardless of size or location, if your library is eligible to apply, you have an opportunity to leverage your local dollars with LSTA.