LSTA Program in Wisconsin: An Overview

May 2008

The Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) program was signed into law on September 30, 1996, as part of the Museum and Library Services Act. The LSTA consists of a state grants program with funds distributed to states on a formula basis, and programs administered directly from the federal level by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), including the National Leadership Grants and grants for Native Americans and Native Hawaiians. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for LSTA is 45.310.

Purposes of LSTA

The LSTA program represents a modernization and reconfiguration of the Library Services Construction Act (LSCA), building on the strengths of that program but sharpening the focus on technology, resource sharing, and targeted services. The federal LSTA purposes as revised in September 2003 are:

Expanding services for learning and access to information and educational resources in a variety of formats, in all types of libraries, for individuals of all ages
Developing library services that provide all users access to information through local, state, regional, national, and international electronic networks
Providing electronic and other linkages among and between all types of libraries
Developing public and private partnerships with other agencies and community-based organizations
Targeting library services to individuals of diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, to individuals with disabilities, and to individuals with limited functional literacy or information skills
Targeting library and information services to persons having difficulty using a library and to underserved urban and rural communities, including children (from birth through age 17) from families with incomes below the poverty line.

The state grants program is administered in Wisconsin by the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning (DLTCL) in the Department of Public Instruction. The president signed the reauthorization of the Museum and Library Services Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-81), of which LSTA is a part. It reauthorizes LSTA through 2009.

The grants made possible by the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) provide seed money for improving library services throughout the United States. The program is designed to ensure that everyone can have the information resources needed for daily living and lifelong learning. A strong investment will spread the benefits of new technology to both rural and urban libraries in all parts of the country, provide support for pre-reading early childhood programs in libraries, and help libraries provide job and consumer health information, serve small business and so much more.

Funds in the LSTA state grants program are used in Wisconsin

To ensure that the libraries and library systems utilize technology to improve services and facilitate access to materials and information resources in Wisconsin libraries and from other sources for the benefit of all Wisconsin residents.
To ensure convenient access to a wide range of quality library and information services for all Wisconsin residents, including those who have difficulty using a library because of limited literacy and language skills, educational or socioeconomic barriers, or a disability.

Major Accomplishments 2003-2008

Regional Shared Automation Systems. Regional shared automation systems provide for efficient sharing of the books and other materials available in the participating libraries in the region, and LSTA funds, in conjunction with other local and state funds, helped increase the percentage of public libraries in shared automation systems from 20 percent in 1997 to approximately 90 percent by the end of 2008, giving Wisconsin citizens direct and convenient access to greatly increased numbers of books and other materials.

Statewide Delivery. A statewide delivery network is utilized to support the sharing of the books and other materials owned by Wisconsin 's libraries. LSTA funds, in conjunction with local and state funds, are used to help support the statewide delivery network. The delivery network includes the University of Wisconsin System libraries, the UW-Madison campus libraries, technical college system libraries, public library systems, and Wisconsin state government libraries.

Virtual Reference. LSTA funds were used to help initiate and develop statewide virtual reference service providing 24/7 coverage to answer reference questions. Wisconsin libraries, in partnership with libraries throughout the country, provide staffing for the service, giving all the citizens of Wisconsin access to this service from their homes, offices, schools, and libraries.

Interlibrary Loan. In addition to the resources available regionally, Wisconsin citizens have access to the bibliographic records of the holdings in over 1,200 Wisconsin libraries via the statewide resource sharing tool called WISCAT. LSTA funds were used to continue development of WISCAT, the statewide union catalog.

Adult, Family, and Early Literacy. LSTA funds were used to promote and demonstrate the role of public libraries in improving literacy and reading skills for people having difficulty using libraries because of their educational, cultural, or socioeconomic background.

Digitization of Local Resources. The University of Wisconsin Digital Collections Center (UWDCC, http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/WI/) has been a partner with the Division for Libraries, Technology and Community Learning (DLTCL), since 2005. This partnership has enabled public library systems and libraries to digitize historical resources that may be unique or of local interest.

Terrie Howe
LSTA Program Coordinator
Division for Libraries and Community Learning
Public Library Development
125 South Webster Street, P.O. Box 7841
Madison, WI 53707-07841
(608) 266-2413
teresa.howe@dpi.wi.gov

For questions about this information, contact Teresa D. Howe (608) 266-2413

Last updated on 5/21/2008 11:24:50 AM