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FY09 LSTA Grant FAQs - Part 1

If your question is not addressed in these FAQs, check out the FY09 LSTA Grant FAQs Part 2.

If you have additional questions about the LSTA grant offerings, please send an email to kegan@ilsos.net.

General Questions:

Q:  I submitted my letter of intent for LSTA grant (technology), but now that I have the actual quotes, I find original amount that I’m asking for is wrong.  It won’t match my budget sheet.  How do I change that so my cover letter will be correct?

A: Please make any corrections directly on the Cover Sheet.  Please cross off the incorrect amount and write in the correct amount.  Please circle the correct amount, or highlight it on your original so that we notice you have made a change.

Digital Imaging:

Q: Is digitization of microfilms (i.e., microfilms of primary source materials) allowed in the Digital Imaging category? 

A:  No, the digital imaging grants are to digitize primary source materials.  Microfilms are second generation and the quality would be questioned. 

Q:  While the digital imaging grant offering says that only one application will be accepted per library, it also seems to indicated that a library can apply once in option 1 and once in option 3 (see the first guideline).  Am I reading this correctly? Could we apply with one collection for option 1 and another significant collection for option?

A:  The Hometown Library, for example, has one library - so this agency may submit only one application.  The Chicago Public Library, for example, has numerous libraries.  Up to three of the CPL libraries could submit applications, but we would fund only one of them. 1 application per library, up to 3 per agency if there are multiple libraries, but no more than one application will be funded per agency.

In Sync With Technology:

Q:   Can a library partner with an applicant library in 2008 but be the applicant in 2009?  Example: Barclay writes and receives a grant for Illiopolis and Mt. Pulaski as partners for gaming in 2008.  Can Mt. Pulaski write a grant for laptops and oral histories in 2009?

A:   Barclay, as the applicant awarded a grant in 2008, is no longer eligible to apply.  Illiopolis and Mt. Pulaski partnered but did not apply in 2008, so they are eligible to apply in 2009 or 2010. 
Partnering is not the intent of In Sync With Technology.  Using the grant to leverage the local community(s) to support the library is the intent and preference will be given to those applications that do demonstrate leveraging. 

So, in the example above, the successful applicant will demonstrate leveraging community support from local organizations or businesses for in-kind or cash support in Barclay, Illiopolis and Mt. Pulaski.
Gaming?  Think big.  This is the opportunity to request capital outlay.  The actual games would be a good example of appropriate local contributions to the project.

Q:    If a system applies for and receives a grant that is on behalf of member libraries, are those libraries prohibited from applying for individual grants in successive years.  Example: In 2008 the system applies for a gaming grant on behalf of Libraries ABCD.  In 2009, Library A wants to write a grant for an online book group. 

A: A library agency/applicant will only be eligible to receive grant funding in this category once during the three-year cycle.  Libraries ABCD are eligible to apply for the In Sync With Technology grant in year 2 because the system applied in year 1, not the libraries.  The system will not be eligible to apply on behalf of the member libraries again. (See below)

Preference will be given to applications that leverage community support.  If the system applies on behalf of Libraries ABCD, to be given preference for funding, the application must demonstrate support from the system’s local community as well as the local communities of Libraries ABC and D.

Q:   Can a system write and receive an IN SYNC grant on behalf of different groups of libraries in successive years. Library System and Library Agency are defined separately on page 3 and Library Agency is the one prohibited from successive funding on page 4.

A:  No.  The system can receive funding twice, once for the headquarters and once for the members.    Remember to demonstrate leveraging the community for support.

Q:    In the program overview, the grant seeks to "enhance library services for patrons by replacing, upgrading or adding public access/staff computers located in the library.  This includes upgrading to larger monitors and the purchase of laptop computers."  However, as I read through the remainder of the grant description, page 5 explains that "The Illinois State Library Will Not Approve The Following Use of LSTA Grant Funds: . . . Computer labs (stationary or wireless), circulation systems or bibliographic platforms."   This appears to be conflicting information.

A:  You are absolutely correct that the grant will not fund a computer lab.  Picture a school with a library and a separate computer lab.  The Illinois State Library will not fund nor support a computer lab nor will ISL support computers in the classrooms.  The In Sync With Technology offering could be used to support computers in the library to enhance library services.   

Be sure that you have a patron-based reason for the computers in the library.  Maybe you will offer classes and teach patrons how to use the Library 2.0 technologies; perhaps you will target those interested in genealogy or students participating in the science fair and offer research techniques; be sure to have a clear patron based program driving the need for the equipment. 

Remember that the In Sync With Technology offering gives preference to those leveraging community support - it can be in-kind or cash.

The Value of Resource Sharing:

Q:   We are looking at the grant titled "The Value of Resource Sharing".   We are an offline library hoping to, at least, get automated as a stand-alone library first due to finances.  Would this be something possible to apply for with this grant? 

A: Becoming a standalone is not an option.  If the library is interested in the Value of Resource Sharing, they commit to join one of the listed LLSAP’s as a full member.  

Q: We will almost certainly apply for a FY2009 LSTA grant to record our local serials holdings in OCLC under the Value of Resource Sharing option 2.   On p. 5 of the instructions it says we need a letter from our Regional Library System LLSAP; what/who is that?

A: There are two options under The Value of Resource Sharing grant offering.  One is to join the Local Library System Automation Program or LLSAP; the other is to record local holdings in OCLC.    The letter from the LLSAP is only necessary for libraries proposing to join the LLSAP.  Because you are selecting the option to record local holdings in OCLC, you don't need to have the letter.

The FY09 LSTA grant offerings are posted at:
http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/what_we_do/lsta2009.html