April 6, 2011
State Library of Ohio awards $172,634 in IMLS LSTA Minigrants

The State Library of Ohio is pleased to announce that the State Library Board recently awarded $172,634 in federal Institute of Museum and Library Services LSTA Minigrants to11 libraries. Public libraries receiving the grants include Wadsworth Public Library, Galion Public Library, Ida Rupp Public Library, Marysville Public Library, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Shelby County Libraries, Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library. School and Academic libraries awarded LSTA minigrants include Defiance City Schools, Dublin City Schools, Springfield Local Schools and Marietta College Library.

The grant period is April 1, 2011 – August 31, 2011. The libraries, grant amounts, and program activities include:

Defiance City Schools, $21,000, to automate the elementary and middle school library media collections, thus completing district-wide automation.  The schools will join the INFOhio consortium.

Dublin City Schools, $23,960, to purchase iPads and various applications for use with students with educational disabilities and diverse learning needs.  Participation logs will be used to monitor progress and impact on targeted students’ IEP and/or intervention goals. 

Galion Public Library, $12,949, to develop a laptop computer lab.  This lab will allow the library to offer additional computer trainings and to conduct classes in a functional environment.  The library has been approached by various agencies, including ODJFS and the Ohio Benefits Bank, about partnering on training opportunities. 

Ida Rupp Public Library, $6,675, for a partnership project with the Ottawa County Historical Museum through the shared use of a microfilm scanner and printer.  The institutions will collaborate on the preservation of local history and genealogical materials and to promote user awareness of the materials available at each institution. 

Marietta College Library, $8,700, to digitize four collections of materials related to the American Civil War and Southeast Ohio.  The collections will be made available through the OhioLINK Digital Resources Commons. 

Marysville Public Library, $10,582, for a digital learning project.  This project will provide the community with on-demand, online learning tutorials and interactive digital programs on a variety of topics. 

Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, $24,000, to purchase a microform digitization machine that will be used to digitize microfilm and microfiche.  The addition of this equipment will allow the library to expand its successful digitization program and will provide increased access to library collections, including local newspapers dating back to the 1700s and service records of Ohio Civil War soldiers.

Shelby County Libraries, $22,773, to develop an Early Literacy Room in the library.  This dedicated space will provide families with age-appropriate materials and activities to promote early learning skills in young children.  Parents will be made aware of the importance of early learning skills for the future reading success of children. 

Springfield Local Schools, $22,479, for the purchase of laptop computers, allowing the school library media specialist to work with students on information literacy skills and technology literacy skills correlated to the Ohio Academic Content Standards. 

Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library, $3,311, to digitize and provide increased access to the 15 volume set of Community Church Newsletters ranging from 1934 to 1948.  An index will also increase accessibility.

Wadsworth Public Library,$16,205, for the development of a circulating collection of consumer electronics and computing devices.  This project will allow customers to be exposed to, trained on, and use a variety of devises for career advancement or improvement of employment opportunities. 

“The LSTA minigrant program continues to help libraries address the specific service needs identified in their community”, said Missy Lodge, Associate State Librarian for Library Development.  “We were particularly pleased this round with the number of projects which partnered with other organizations and which were aligned with statewide initiatives.”

The State Library administers the Ohio LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) program, funded through the independent federal agency IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Services). LSTA Minigrant funds may be used for items and activities which will assist a library in meeting one of the two broad based purposes of LSTA: 1) technological innovation and electronic linkages, and 2) services to the underserved. A financial match of 25% of the total project cost is required from the institution. For more information about the Ohio LSTA Grant program go to: http://www.library.ohio.gov/lpd/lsta.