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Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Grants
July 1, 2000-June 30, 2001
Contents of This Section
LSTA Overview
Information Access Through Technology
 Services to Targeted Populations with Special Needs
 Statewide Services

Library Services and Technology Act

Appropriation for FY 2001: $4,193,496

The Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), authorized in PL. 104-208, as amended, provides federal funding for library programs. These funds are awarded to the State Library by the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS). LSTA replaced the expiring Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) when the new Act was signed into law on September 30, 1996.

LSTA funds are generally used as "demonstration funds" or "seed money" to enable libraries to initiate programs which would not be possible without outside funding. LSTA is not intended to supplant local responsibility or provide support for basic services.

The focus of the Act is on two key priorities for library programs: 1) information access through technology; and 2) targeting library and information services to persons, of all ages, who are having difficulty using a library and/or who are unserved or underserved in urban and rural communities. Funds support grant programs for libraries and statewide services. The LSTA Five Year Plan states that depending on the focus of the grant program, public and academic libraries and library computer consortia will be eligible to apply for federally funded grants. When applicable, libraries of all types will be eligible to receive services resulting from the implementation of the project specified in the grant program.

LSTA regulations allow the State Library two years to expend an annual allocation. Under these circumstances, it is common for grants awarded in a particular fiscal year to be paid for out of both current and previous year LSTA allocations. Therefore, the total of grants awarded in a particular fiscal year may not be the same as the allocation for that fiscal year.

In FY 2001, LSTA funds were used to fund library grants programs and services for:

  • information access through technology
  • services to targeted populations with special needs
  • statewide services

Information Access Through Technology

Total expended for FY 2001: $771,849

The LSTA Information Access Through Technology priority supports grant programs and statewide services which have the following objectives: establishing or enhancing electronic linkages among or between libraries; assisting libraries in accessing information through electronic networks; paying the costs for libraries to acquire or share computer systems and telecommunications technologies; electronically linking libraries with educational, social or information services; and encouraging libraries in different areas and/or different types of libraries to establish consortia and share resources.

In FY 200, LSTA funds were expended for the following grant programs and services:

Implementing Z39.50 and WebPac Technology: Third Round

$238,849

Total expended for Grant Program: $297,628
Program partially funded by the Technology Bond Fund for $58,779

The purpose of this grant program is to assist public and academic libraries to acquire the necessary technology to further promote interconnectivity and resource sharing among all types of libraries in the state. Z39.50 software allows different vendors' Integrated Online Library Systems to talk to one another without the human user needing to know anything about the remote computer. Using grant funding, libraries could acquire servers, WebPac software, Z39.50 software, 3M Standard Interchange Protocol software, NT software, users' licenses and vendor-supplied training. The following 15 academic and public libraries were awarded contracts:

  • Belleville Public Library (Gaylord Galaxy)
  • Bernardsville Public Library (Gaylord Galaxy)
  • Clark Public Library (TLC: Library Solution)
  • Fairfield Free Public Library (Gaylord Galaxy)
  • Flemington Free Public Library (epixtech DYNIX)
  • Hackettstown Free Public Library (epixtech DYNIX)
  • Highland Park Public Library (epixtech Horizon)
  • Linden Free Public Library (epixtech DYNIX)
  • Mercer County Library (epixtech DYNIX)
  • Monroe Twp Free Public Library (Gloucester Co.) (Winnebago Spectrum)
  • Montclair State University Library (DRA Classic)
  • Princeton Public Library (Innovative Interfaces Inc.)
  • Roseland Public Library (Gaylord Galaxy)
  • Scotch Plains Public Library (epixtech DYNIX)
  • South Amboy (Dowdell) Library (Winnebago Spectrum)

Informe: Statewide Spanish Language Database License

$ 31,000

The Informe database provides Spanish language references to over 63,000 articles from popular Hispanic magazines many of which are available in full-text articles. Upwards of 1,000 pamphlets on a variety of popular subjects are also included in the database. Designed primarily for the Spanish speaking user, the periodicals and pamphlets are from various Spanish speaking countries. The database is provided free to all public libraries who access the Internet via a Hub Library.

Interactive Real-Time Reference Service (Q and A NJ)

$132,000

The South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative (SJRLC) is administering a pilot project that will provide an interactive, real-time, ready-reference service on the Web which is staffed cooperatively by participating public libraries in its region. In addition, SJRLC will assist the Central Jersey Regional Library Cooperative (CJRLC), Infolink: the Eastern New Jersey Regional Library Cooperative and the Highlands Regional Library Cooperative to replicate this program for selected libraries in each of their regions. The project will offer online ready-reference service combining Internet chat with the ability of trained reference librarians to select and send web sites and other electronic information directly to a customer's computer which effectively meets that person's information needs. Questions will also be answered using print or other library resources not available through the Web. Reference librarians will be trained to use LSSI's Virtual Reference Desk Software to provide the service. The duration of the contract award period is May 1, 2001 through September 30, 2002.

New Jersey Statewide Bibliographic Database: OCLC Tapeload Grant

$30,000

Funds are used to purchase RLIN records for titles cataloged during the year by the Rutgers and Princeton University Libraries to be loaded into the OCLC online union catalog database. Through this grant 120 New Jersey OCLC library members (including the State Library's Access Center) have online access to the holdings of these major research libraries.

New Jersey Union List of Serials (NJULS) web based version

$ 15,000

The New Jersey Union List of Serials database is maintained as part of the OCLC online union catalog database. Libraries who are not members of OCLC do not have online access to the List. in FY 2001, the State Library gave the Atlantic County Library a copy of the current NJULS file which the library mounted on its DYNIX web-based online catalog. Any user with Internet access and a browser can now access the NJULS database. This web-based version replaces an earlier copy of the NJULS file in the County Library's online catalog database which was accessed via telnet.

New Jersey Union List of Serials (NJULS) Maintenance of List

$ 30,000

The New Jersey Union List of Serials contains information on 65,000 periodical and serial titles owned by 625 New Jersey libraries. Through the NJULS, library patrons and staff have access to 382,000 local holdings records for direct forwarding of ILL photocopy requests, allowing requests to be filled rapidly and accurately. The New Jersey Union List of Serials database is maintained as part of the OCLC online union catalog database. Funds are used for: record conversion activities; updating the NJULS database; and OCLC online database maintenance fees.

Public Library Information Kiosks Grant Program

$135,000

The objectives of this grant program are to: 1) provide electronic resources, in an off-site location, to library and non library users, people who do not own PCs and people for whom it is either not possible or inconvenient to come to the public library; and 2) increase the number of public library users by providing services in a remote location which attracts a high number of people. The State Library purchased a turnkey Information Kiosk for each passing applicant and awarded them a maximum grant of $4,100 to implement the project. The following 3 libraries were awarded contracts:

    Atlantic County Library
    Installed kiosk in a supermarket to provide services to the Egg Harbor community, seven days a week, from 7:00 a.m. to 9 p.m. Egg Harbor is an underserved, disadvantaged community where 10.8% of the adults are unemployed and 31% of the students are Spanish speaking. The kiosk will provide an "electronic" branch library providing online information, in both English and Spanish, for a community where few people own PCs. Users will have access to the library's website, web catalog, subscription full-text periodical databases, links to job postings, county and social service agencies, etc. The County Library expects to gain 300 new users during the first year of the project.

    Cumberland County Library
    Installed kiosk in the Cumberland Mall, which is open 80 hours a week, to provide electronic information services and to promote the visibility of CLUES Libraries' services (County Library, three Municipal Libraries and the County College). The project aims to reach people who would not consider entering a traditional library building. There is a high rate of unemployment in the county. Seventeen percent of the county population is Spanish speaking. The kiosk will provide: user instructions in both English and Spanish; access to the Spanish version of the Vineland Public Library website; and access to Spanish sources of information. In addition, kiosk users will have access to the CLUES consortium's website, web catalog, subscription full-text periodical databases, links to job postings, county and social service agencies, etc.

    Wayne Public Library
    Installed kiosk in the Police Athletic League (PAL) Recreation Center, open seven days a week, in the underserved Mt. View area of Wayne. The kiosk will provide an "electronic" branch library providing online information for a community where few people own PCs. The center serves over 4,000 children each year. The kiosk will emphasize homework assistance, introducing children to the Internet and library use. Adults will be able to use the kiosk to access the library's website, web catalog, subscription full-text periodical databases, links to job postings, consumer and business information, sports, travel, etc. while they are waiting to pick up their children. The library expects to gain 180 new users during the first year of the project.

RSS Statewide Interlibrary Loan System

$ 60,000

Total expended for Grant Program: $125,500
Program partially funded by New Jersey Network Aid, Statewide Services for $65,500

The epixtech RSS web-based Interlibrary Loan System, which began operating in September 1999, creates a virtual statewide database that provides access to collections of New Jersey public and academic libraries. Librarians and patrons are able to request materials from libraries throughout the state. The system currently accesses lending libraries' holdings in DYNIX, Horizon, CARL, GEAC, Endeavor, TLC Library Solution, Innovative Interface, Gaylord Galaxy and SIRSI web catalog databases. DRA web catalog databases are also searchable but holdings information is not displayed. By the end of May 2001, 247 public, school, academic, special and hospital libraries were participating in the system as either lenders and/or borrowers. Of that total, 86 libraries have made their online databases available via web catalogs and are lending materials. In FY 2001, 32,000 items were requested.

VALE: Database Access for Academic Libraries

$100,000

Total expended for Grant Program: $250,000
Program partially funded by the Virtual Library Aid Program for $150,000

VALE (Virtual Academic Library Environment), a consortium of 49 New Jersey public and private academic libraries, provides access to 16 databases in electronic formats to its members. VALE provides an organizational structure, leveraged purchasing power and technical support for this statewide acquisition of electronic resources. In FY 2001, the consortium was awarded a grant to: license the Lexis-Nexis database; support a half-time VALE Coordinator position; provide technical support; and maintain the OCLC Site Search software license.

Services to Targeted Populations With Special Needs

Total expended for FY 2001: $1,889,628

The LSTA Services to Targeted Populations with Special Needs priority supports grant programs to libraries and statewide services for library and information services to persons, of all ages, who are having difficulty using a library and/or who are unserved or underserved in urban and rural communities. The LSTA Five Year Plan targets these services for persons, of all ages, who are having difficulty using a library; with priority given to persons with disabilities (visual, physical, hearing, learning, etc.); persons for whom English is not their native language; persons lacking literacy skills; persons who are unemployed; and persons who are economically disadvantaged.

In FY 2001, LSTA funds were expended for the following grant programs and services:

Library for the Blind and Handicapped (LBH)

$1,237,000

LBH offers direct library services to any New Jersey resident who for any physical reason can not read regular printed books with ease. More than 12,000 individuals are registered users of the Library. Braille, talking books, large print books, audio descriptive videos and video tapes are available on-site or by postage-free mail. The Library has: more than 60,000 book titles and 90 periodicals; machines to be loaned free-of-charge for playing recorded materials; resource materials on blindness and deafness; an outreach program to promote the use of Spanish language materials; an active children's program; and a hard of hearing and deaf awareness program.

In FY 2001, LBH circulated 510,000 items. Staff taking requests for talking books spoke to approximately 40,500 callers a year. Audiovision, a radio reading service, is available to registered residents throughout the state. Volunteers read local newspapers. These recordings are broadcast 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. An AT&T language line service is available to assist persons for whom English is not their first language to access LBH library materials. LBH's web pages are presented in English and Spanish versions. In addition to its direct services, LBH has contracted with 9 public libraries throughout the state to make available, to registered patrons, a small collection of recorded books and cassette players to replace machines that need repairs. Federal funds support 25 FTE and 3 part-time staff positions in administration, readers' services, volunteer services, data processing, technical services, shipping and the Deaf Awareness Project. More then 90 volunteers assist LBH in all facets of its operation.

    Deaf Awareness Project

    The goal of the Deaf Awareness Project is to make all services of every public library accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing residents of its community. Funds support the salary of the Deaf Awareness Coordinator who promotes sign language interpreting services and the use of assistive devices to public libraries as a means of making library materials and programming accessible to patrons with hearing loss. To support this work, LBH has a collection of assistive devices and over 500 videotapes and books on hearing loss and deafness. Working with the deaf community, the Coordinator promotes public library services through their meetings and publications. Seven deaf resource centers, located in public libraries, provide equipment (TTY's, close caption decoders, etc.) and a small collection of resource materials.

In FY 2001, LBH activities included:

  • Deaf and Hard of Hearing Awareness/Sensitivity Workshop was presented for public, academic, school and special librarians who learned about the different needs of hard of hearing and deaf individuals and how to effectively provide services for these patrons.
  • Sensitivity training was conducted throughout the state in libraries and for school aged children about the needs of blind, deaf and handicapped individuals.
  • Audiovision expanded its broadcast schedule to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Grant from the New Jersey Division of Addiction Services was awarded to LBH, for $29,000, to purchase special format addiction materials for all disabilities.

Library Services to Special Populations

$219,263

This grant program funds public library projects to develop new services, programs and resources or to expand existing ones to meet the needs of unserved or underserved populations within the library's community. In FY 2001, the targeted population included: 1) children and adults who are having difficulty using a library; 2) children and adults who are economically disadvantaged; 3) adults who are unemployed; 4) children and adults whose English-language skills are limited; and 5) children and adults who are home bound. The following 22 libraries were awarded contracts:

Atlantic City Free Public Library...$10,000
English language skills program for immigrants including conversation classes, materials and software.

Bernardsville Public Library...$ 9,263
ESL family literacy and homework assistance program for South American immigrant community including programming, bilingual materials, software and theme kits for children.

Bridgeton Free Public Library...$10,000
Outreach to Hispanic community through outreach coordinator, programming, classroom support materials, expansion of Spanish and ESL collections, library literacy training and resources for teachers and counselors.

Burlington County Library...$10,000
Cooperative program with LVA to serve Portuguese community in Cinnaminson area with conversation classes, materials and an ESL PC.

Dunellen Free Public Library...$10,000
Adaptive technology and classes for senior citizens to help them use the library, computers and Internet resources. Creation of a Seniors' Computer Club and newsletter by and for seniors.

East Brunswick Public Library...$10,000
Computer classes given to teach Internet searching and job hunting skills to new immigrants.

East Orange Public Library...$10,000
After-school Homework Center, with project staff assisting 10-14 year old children.

Elizabeth Free Public Library...$10,000
Community Learning Lab offered training in computer and job skills and ESL training.

Gloucester County Library...$10,000
Enhanced services to senior citizens through outreach programs in each branch library; Internet resources on specific topics; large screen PCs; and additions to the Large Print collection.

Livingston (Ruth L. Rockwood Memorial) Library...$10,000
Expansion of cooperative LVA ESL program for Asian and other populations including tutoring, student materials and an ESL PC.

Maplewood Memorial Library...$10,000
ESL program, in collaboration with LVA, includes tutoring, student materials and resources for the tutors.

Margate City Public Library...$10,000
Services for senior citizens including collections in senior citizens' residences and weekly transportation to the library.

Mendham Borough Library...$10,000
Jobs skills project provided courses on resume writing, interviewing, finding jobs and business application software.

Mount Laurel Public Library...$10,000
Expanded Career Center with workshops on job skills, a database of employers and additional library resources.

New Brunswick Free Public Library...$10,000
After-school Homework Center for high school students with outreach program for Hispanic students.

Newark Public Library...$10,000
Job skills for unemployed, workshops on resume writing, job hunting, interviewing, career counseling, job fair and expansion of library resources.

Ocean County Library, Lakewood Branch...$10,000
Homework Center, staffed by 2 paid employees and volunteers, which includes Internet, library resources, and a program to teach elementary school children Internet skills.

Princeton Public Library...$10,000
Outreach to Latin American community through cultural and informational programs; computer/Internet training in Spanish; ESL PC and software; and library resources.

South Brunswick Public Library...$10,000
Expanded Arabic and Urdu collections and provided cultural programming.

South Plainfield Public Library...$10,000
Career Center provided information and assistance in job hunting, preparing resumes, using word processing and resume software.

Trenton Public Library...$10,000
Job skills program at Cadwalader Branch, PC, resume software, library resources and programs.

Woodbury Public Library...$10,000
Outreach to pre-school children and parents via monthly visits to preschools and kindergartens with a rotating collection of library materials; workshops on parenting; and materials on education and parenting.

Multilingual Materials Acquisitions Center (MultiMAC)

$160,000

The Multilingual Language Materials Acquisitions Center (MultiMAC) offers information, materials and step-by-step assistance and support to New Jersey librarians interested in advancing the full spectrum of library services to patrons who speak languages other than English. The Center purchases a wide variety of popular reading materials in Arabic, Chinese, French, Gujarati, Haitian Creole, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese for all age groups and reading levels. A quarterly annotated booklist of new recommended acquisitions, including cataloging information, is published on the website. MultiMAC provides: on-site facilities for librarians to examine materials; consultation and advice on the acquisition and cataloging of materials; packets, in eleven languages, which contain information and signs for using a public library; and translation services. Staff present workshops on library services to multi-cultural and multi-ethnic communities. The Center, administered by the Newark Public Library, was established in 1991 with Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) funds.

In FY 2001, MultiMAC provided the following services:
  • The Center made 438 bulk loans, 714 individual loans, lent 11,617 items, answered 265 questions from public, school, academic and special libraries and presented 8 workshops. Over 2,800 items were added to the collection.
    • Materials in Russian, Chinese and Spanish have the greatest number of ILL requests, followed by the Indic language.
    • MultiMAC staff completed a long-term project designed to add local language subject headings retroactively to all MultiMAC items cataloged before 1998, when the Department began assigning them.
    • MultiMAC staff assisted libraries to produce brochures in languages used by community residents. Over 30 requests for translation services were processed.
  • MultiMac staff provided the following on-site workshops at libraries: Customer Service in Multicultural Environments; Marketing the Library in Multicultural Communities; and Developing World Language Collections.
  • MultiMac web page contains: 1) an overview of services; 2) information, arranged by language, with listings of book sellers, periodicals, associations and websites; and 3) links to language web sites; and 4) booklists of recently purchased materials.

Public Library Literacy Programs

$273,365

The goal of this grant program is to strengthen local public library services, resources and programs to meet the literacy needs of adults, young adults and families. Projects funded under this program will assist public libraries to strengthen or expand their existing program components in literacy instruction, family literacy and/or English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). The following 14 libraries were awarded contracts:
  • Belleville Public Library & Information Center: $$19,678
  • Camden County Library: $19,424
  • East Orange Public Library: $20,000
  • Elizabeth Free Public Library: $20,000
  • Gloucester County Library: $20,000
  • Hillside Free Pubic Library: $16,231
  • Jersey City Free Public Library: $20,000
  • Libraries of Middlesex: $15,000
  • Montclair Public Library: $18,032
  • Newark Public Library: $20,000
  • Passaic Public Library: $20,000
  • Paterson Free Public Library: $20,000
  • Plainfield Free Public Library: $20,000
  • Vineland Public Library: $20,000
  • Westwood Free Public Library: $20,000

Statewide Services

Total expended for FY 2000: $2,001,762

Statewide services, supported by LSTA funding, are administered by State Library staff or provided directly to libraries and the public. The State Library's objectives in providing these statewide services are as follows:
  • to develop and coordinate a statewide system of all types of libraries; provide consulting, technical assistance and continuing education to those libraries; administer state and federal programs for the improvement of library services; and promote and develop library services throughout the state;
  • to provide information and materials directly to libraries and users to meet their information needs;
  • to improve access to materials and information by introducing, utilizing and maintaining appropriate technology; and
  • to develop an infrastructure which: provides for cost-effective electronic transfer of information; provides a gateway to creates informational databases; ensures that all New Jersey citizens have access to this information at home, school, place of business and at their local library; and trains local library staff in the use of these new information systems.

Statewide Recruitment of Professional Librarians...$ 5,150
The Central Jersey Regional Library Cooperative (CJRLC) was awarded a contract to develop a statewide recruitment program for professional librarians to meet the pressing need for librarians in the state. LSTA and CJRLC regional funds supported the first phase of the project which involved developing a recruitment web site, recruitment brochures and materials used at recruitment Open Houses. The first Open House was held at Ocean County Library in April 2001. This program will be expanded in FY 2002.

New Jersey Leadership Program...$ 4,500
The Central Jersey Regional Library Cooperative (CJRLC) was awarded a contract to manage a statewide Leadership Program for all types of libraries. The program's goal is to educate librarians on the critical issues of managing libraries, now and in the future, and to develop leadership vision. The first phase of the project involved awarding a scholarship for: a public librarian to attend the 7th Annual Public Library Leadership Institute held by the College of Information Studies, University of Maryland; and an academic librarian to attend the 2nd Annual Institute on 21st Century Librarianship held by Stanford University. This program will be expanded in FY 2002.

Digitization of State Library New Jersey Historical Materials...$50,000
The State Library contracted with a conversion company to key Stryker's Records of Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Civil War, 1861-1865 which contains New Jersey's official compilation of the officers and men of each regiment. Approximately 350 photographs in the State Archives of Civil War soldiers will be linked to the names in Stryker's book. The grant will also support the conversion of the 1947 New Jersey Constitutional Proceedings. Digital versions of these documents will be available on the State Library's website.

New Jersey State Library Staff

$690,000

LSTA funding supports 7 FTE and 8 part-time positions at the State Library which provide statewide reference, interlibrary loan, computer technical support and public library development services to the library community and to the citizens of New Jersey.

Reference and interlibrary loan service is provided statewide for libraries and the public. The State Library has extensive collections of law, New Jersey government, Jerseyana, local history, genealogy and core materials. Any member of the public, who has a public library card, can apply for a State Library card to borrow materials.

Online access to information is provided through the CyberDesk website which contain extensive annotated web links to information resources for law, genealogy, health, medical resources, New Jersey government information, New Jersey documents, U.S. documents and other areas of interest to New Jersey residents. The New Jersey State government website recognized the State Library's web page, New Jersey Government Publications on the Web, by making it the sole link for state publications on its home page. Law Library staff have prepared full-text Legislative Histories for 1998 - 2000 laws added to the N.J.S.A.

The State Library's web-based online catalog and several full-text periodical article and information databases (EbscoHost MasterFile Premier database, FACTS.com and NoveList) can be searched from on-site or from home or the office. Persons with State Library cards can electronically submit loan requests for books from the State Library's collection or for titles not owned by the Library; and can electronically submit loan requests for articles available within the State Library's collection or in other libraries' collections throughout the State. Patrons can electronically transmit reference requests to the staff.

The Library Development Bureau provides consultant services and technical assistance to create, improve and strengthen library, information and literacy services. Administrative support for programs funded by LSTA includes: award of federal grants to libraries; generation and distribution of information to librarians, governing officials and the public; development and provision of online information about Library Development and Library for the Blind and Handicapped (LBH) programs and services; provision and/or sponsorship of continuing education opportunities; provision of E-Rate and Technology Plan preparation assistance; and maintenance of the New Jersey Union List of Serials database. LDB Staff manage the RSS Statewide Interlibrary Loan System, install software and provide training. Information Technology staff manage the Hub Library Network and provide Hub Library services to libraries in Mercer and Hunterdon counties.

In FY 2001, Library Development Bureau staff provided the following services and continuing education opportunities:

RSS Statewide Interlibrary Loan System

Two hundred and forty-seven New Jersey public, academic, school, law and hospital libraries are currently able to access a virtual statewide bibliographic database of library resources for use by their patrons and staff. The system became operational in September 1999. A LDB Program Manager is responsible for acting as the primary liaison with the vendor; providing training and technical assistance to participating libraries; performing system administration tasks; moderating the NJRSS electronic discussion group (listserv); and supervising two staff who profile libraries and install the software on member libraries' PCs.

The Program Manager and another LDB staff member have trained over 250 librarians to use version 2 of the software. Training and software installation for the system is ongoing as new upgrades of the RSS ILL software are issued by epixtech. Six User Group meetings were held in Fall 2000 and Spring 2001 to provide information on the system and get input from the librarians who use it. A Users Survey was conducted in April. The Program Manager has made presentations on the system to two New Jersey groups and to the ARL Director's Forum on Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery at the American Library Association Annual Conference in Chicago, July 2000. She also serves on the VALE Interlibrary Loan Work Group.

E-Rate and Technology Planning Technical Assistance

A Library Development staff member attended a two-day training session in Washington, DC for state E-Rate coordinators. She updated the E-Rate information on the website by posting the slide slow prepared for that training and her notes. A mailing was sent to public library directors suggesting that they review the site. Since there were no major changes for the fourth round of the program, update sessions were not held. The State Library's E-rate web pages present: updated information on the approval process; instructions for completing forms; and information on filtering legislation tied to the E-Rate process. The number of New Jersey public libraries receiving E-Rate funding are as follows: FY 1998 had 81 funded; FY 1999 had 72 funded; and FY 2000 had 59 funded.

Another Library Development staff member updated the State Library's instructions for developing a new three year Technology Plan and provided information on the technology planning process and samples of approved plans for small, medium and large libraries on the E-Rate web page. She has reviewed and approved technology plans for 37 libraries and library consortia. In FY 2001, the State Library's Instructions for Developing a Plan are featured in the E-Rate Resource Center at LibrarySpot.com. This website has been honored by Forbes.com as the "Best Reference Site" for both 2000 and 2001.

Managing for Results Workshops

A Library Development staff member was selected as one of only 20 trainers from around the county to become a Managing for Results trainer for the Public Library Association. After attending a three-day training workshop, she and another New Jersey public librarian developed training materials which they used to present three one-day sessions in the state. These training sessions were held for: the South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative (15 participants); the New Jersey Library Association (75 participants); and the Highlands Regional Library Cooperative (30 participants).

Library Development Bureau Web Site Additions

Four Library Development staff developed content for the Bureau's web pages, with one of these staff members having the primary responsibility for maintaining the site.

The site provides information on Bureau functions; the latest library development news; information on LSTA grants: announcement of grants awards; descriptions of grant projects; comprehensive links to New Jersey public and academic library websites and online catalogs; and the full-text of a number of LDB publications.

Web pages, containing annotated URL links, have been added for the following topics: E-Rate; preparation of technology plans, library services to persons with disabilities, library services for multicultural/multilingual populations; assistance in identifying and preparing applica-tions for grants not funded by the State Library; and library disaster resources.

In FY 2001, the following information was added to the website: full-text, with URL indexing of Library Laws of New Jersey; major additions to the Construction Bond Fund web pages; and an in-depth presentation on the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant program.

Train the Trainer Workshop

In FY 2001, the State Library sponsored a four day Train the Trainer Workshop whose goal was to develop a core group of library staff who will be skilled in training techniques and will serve as a training resource for libraries in New Jersey. Two Library Development Bureau staff organized the workshop and participated as trainers.

The State Library purchased the site license to the Train-the-Trainers Instructor's Manual and the Student Book which allowed a core group of senior trainers to add new materials on "using technology while training" and "training on technology topics" to virtually every lesson. Twenty librarians from public, academic, special and school libraries attended this year's workshop. Since the inception of this program, in FY 1995, 147 librarians have been trained.

LSTA State Plan Administration

$167,740

As authorized in LSTA, up to four percent of the federal funds may be expended for administrative costs in connection with programs and activities carried out in the Act. The State Library uses these funds to: manage the projects and activities that fall under the purpose of the Act; provide financial and program accountability for the administration of federal funds; provide reimbursement for members of grant Reader Evaluation Panels; conduct meetings with librarians to solicit input, feedback and suggestions about the programs being conducted; and evaluate the results and impact of the LSTA program.
   
  Last updated: August 10, 2001.
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