New Jersey State Library Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA)

Background

The New Jersey State Library (NJSL) is one of New Jersey's biggest resource treasures. Founded in 1796, NJSL is the third oldest state library in the nation and serves the Garden State’s population of nearly 8.8 million people through the State’s network of libraries and directly through the State Library Information Center and through the New Jersey Talking Book and Braille Center (TBBC)

The State Library’s programs of service are primarily funded by New Jersey State tax dollars. However, federal funds administered through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) are significant as well.

As the State Library Administrative Agency for New Jersey, NJSL is responsible for carrying out the provisions of LSTA in New Jersey. The Library Services and Technology Act of 2010 is a section of the Museum and Library Services Act that is designed to promote access to information resources provided by all types of libraries. The LSTA program is administered on the Federal level by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Under the requirements of the legislation, IMLS provides funds to State Library Administrative Agencies using a population-based formula.

In order to be eligible to receive LSTA funds, each SLAA must submit a five-year plan that outlines how the state agency intends to utilize the Federal funds in accordance with nine purposes enumerated in the LSTA language. The five-year plan must include a needs assessment as well as goals, activities, and processes that will be used to evaluate the state agency’s progress toward its goals.

LSTA Five-Year Plan

• New Jersey State Library Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Five-Year Plan
• LSTA five-year plan evaluation

LSTA Budget

NJSL is awarded an annual contract under IMLS’s Grants to States program in order to carry out the goals of LSTA. This grant, which is formula-driven based on population, is awarded annually each October 1st with a two-year timeframe to spend the funds. This means that in any one fiscal year, NJSL can have up to three LSTA grants running concurrently. For example, in Fiscal Year 2011, which runs from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011, the State Library finished up the LSTA Grant Year 2009 (which ran from October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2010), is operating under Grant Year 2010, which ends September 30, 2011, and was awarded Grant Year 2011 funds, which must be used by September 30, 2012. IMLS allows up to 4% of each grant to be used for general and administrative purposes. Any unspent LSTA funds must be returned to IMLS at the end of each grant year.

• To see the current Grant Year 11 budget, click here.
• To see the Grant Year 10 budget, click here.
• For more information on the Grants to States program, click here to visit IMLS’s website.

LSTA Advisory Council

Charge

• To assist the New Jersey State Library in developing and evaluating the LSTA five year plan;
• To assist the New Jersey State Library in establishing the annual grant criteria;
• To assist the New Jersey State Library in evaluating activities funded through the LSTA program in New Jersey

The LSTA Advisory Council is an optional advisory group for each State Librarian, per the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Grants to States Program.

LSTA Advisory Council Members

Effective January 1, 2012:

• Brian Auger, Director, Somerset County Library
• Ruth Bogan, Executive Director, PALS PLUS (Passaic County Libraries Computer Consortium)
• Norman Gluckman, Director, Avalon Free Public Library
• Susan Heinis, NJASL Representative
• Jerry Holtz, IT, Woodbridge Public Library
• Susan Kaplan, Director, Sayreville Free Public Library
• Pamela Price, Director, Mercer County Community College-West Windsor Campus Library
• Mary Romance, NJLA Representative
• Gloria Urban, Director, Vineland Public Library
• Ann Yurcaba, Director of Member Programs, LYRASIS

Next Meeting:

• LSTA Advisory Council
• Monday, May 21, 2012 from 1-3 pm
• NJSL Talking Book and Braille Center, 2300 Stuyvesant Avenue Trenton, NJ

Meetings are open to the public.