Library Services and Technology Act Funds

Supporting Education and Economic and Cultural Opportunities in California

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Strong libraries create strong communities. California invests federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds to provide trusted information to Californians and help local libraries deliver essential services to communities.

California received $15.9 million in the 2023-2024 fiscal year. This is just 40 cents per Californian.

Program Highlights from 2023-2024

20,500+

inquiries from blind and print disabled library users answered by State Library staff

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Grants for local programs to libraries serving over

6 million

Californians

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574,600+

audio and braille books, magazines, and descriptive videos provided to blind and print disabled Californians via the Braille and Book Talking Library

Photo of Children Sitting outdoors on the ground in circle, person standing in the middle reading an open-faced picture book.

Digital Navigators to help Californians access technology and online resources

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Summer reading programs for

1.4 million +

people

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99,000+

views and downloads from the State Library’s digitized collections

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Access for all to the New York Times and CalMatters and millions of visits each year

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Privacy booths in libraries for accessing health, legal, and workforce services

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22,800+

public research inquiries answered by State Library staff

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A statewide eBook library including thousands of titles

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165,000+

items of California culture and history preserved online

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Training for thousands of California library workers

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What Our Team Does

  • Deliver training, consultation, and resources to library workers across the state
  • Ensure libraries provide high quality literacy programs, summer reading, high-speed broadband, disaster preparedness, early learning, homework help, teen services, career resources, and collections, and serve as vital community hubs
  • Collect, store, and share data about California’s public libraries
  • Provide accessible reading materials to blind and print disabled Californians via the Braille and Talking Book Library
  • Provide the public with free and open access to government information through the Federal and State Depository Library Programs
  • Connect all Californians to the state’s history by cataloging, digitizing, preserving, and sharing historic and unique collection material
  • Equip Californians with current, cutting-edge resources onsite, online, and via interlibrary loan
  • Research and answer inquiries from the public, state government, and the Legislature to support an informed public and sound policy decisions
  • Supplement the collections of public libraries with scientific and scholarly works
  • Serve as a credible and accurate source of information for all
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See More About Some of Our Programs!

Services, resources, and programs are supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.