State Librarian's Update - August 2025 | New Jersey State Library

Published on August 4, 2025

The NJ State Library (NJSL) is pleased to offer a new grant opportunity for public libraries – Expanding Digital Literacy. While our work in this area is not as robust as we had hoped, we maintain a commitment to helping libraries be key resources for digital inclusion in communities. We are also maintaining our commitment to providing libraries with access to Northstar, which is a terrific tool for digital literacy assessment and teaching. If your library is not currently a Northstar library and would like to join, now is a good time to let us know.

The proposed changes to the New Jersey Administrative Code, 15:21 (State Library Aid and Grants) and 15:22 (Library Network Services) were published in the NJ register on August 4. Two working groups met throughout 2024 to read, revise, and update both sets of regulations. The collaborative effort is reflected in the resulting proposals. If you’d like to submit comments, please do so by October 3.

As described elsewhere in this update, NJSL just released the results of our RFP for online databases. We are maintaining access to the same suite of resources and have entered into one-year contracts through September 2026, with options for two one-year renewals. We made this decision out of an abundance of caution with the federal 2026 budget as yet undecided; the databases are paid for primarily with IMLS funds.

Finally, thank you for your feedback on the Freedom to Read Act policies and forms. Another collaborative working group, members selected in part by NJLA, worked from January – May 2025 developing these. NJSL will hold technical assistance sessions in October for trustees and directors to review the new requirements and answer questions.

Jen Nelson
State Librarian