LSTA Grants for Public Libraries: LSTA Continuing Education Grants

CE Grants for conferences and classes taking place October 2021 through August 2022 will be OPENED September 2021. The guidelines and application can be downloaded in September 2021.

Note on mileage reimbursement: For grants with travel that includes mileage (driving a car instead of flying), the rate of reimbursement is $0.56/mile.  

1.  Applications will be accepted for conferences and multi-session online or in-person courses. One-time webinars or one-session classes will not be funded at this time. See the guidelines for award amounts.

2. CE grants are available only for staff in public libraries in the current grant cycle. No grants are available for academic or school librarians in FFY21.

Grants of Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds are available for library staff wishing to expand their professional knowledge by attending a professional conference such as SCLA, PLA, or ALA. Reimbursement of related expenses is available for conference attendance that allows librarians to develop, expand, deliver, or promote services and programs that are related to the six federal purposes.*

* The six Federal purposes as outlined in LSTA (20 U.S.C. 9141) are:

1. 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;
   
   
2. Developing library services that provide all users with access to information through local, state, regional, national, and international electronic networks;
   
   
3. Providing electronic and other linkages among and between all types of libraries;
   
   
4. Developing public and private partnerships with other agencies and community-based organizations;
   
   
5. 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;
   
   
6. 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.

For additional information on LSTA grants in South Carolina, contact the LSTA Coordinator, Wendy Coplen, (803) 734-0436.

To submit a comment or complaint about the administration of LSTA grants, please contact the SCSL Director, Leesa Aiken, (803) 734-8668.