Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA)

Through the Grants to States program, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) provides federal LSTA funds to state libraries, including the State Library of Iowa, using a population-based formula.  In Iowa, LSTA funds are used primarily to support statewide library development initiatives and services such as:

• summer library program
• developing the skills of Iowa library directors and staff
  
• statewide access to online reference databases such as EBSCOhost and FirstSearch
• interlibrary loan network through maintenance of the State of Iowa Libraries Online (SILO)
• Iowa Center for the Book
• standards for public libraries
  

The federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) of 1996, a section of the Museum and Library Services Act, promotes access to information resources provided by all types of libraries.  LSTA outlines two broad priorities for this funding:

• Activities using technology for information sharing among libraries and between libraries and other community services. 
• Programs that make library resources more accessible to urban and rural localities, to low-income residents, and to others who have difficulty using library services. 

This program is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the State Library of Iowa.