eBooks for All Collection Development Grants 2024-2025
Help build the statewide eBook collection!
The California State Library invites public libraries to apply for funding to build our shared statewide collection of eBooks and eAudiobooks, accessible to every library in the state.
The collection, currently consisting of over 150,000 copies of over 90,000 titles, is designed to meet the recreational and informational reading needs of California’s diverse communities. Many titles are licensed for simultaneous use. The collection is available to all public libraries to provide for free to readers of all ages. Libraries wishing to have access to this collection must be on the Palace App, an eReader aggregator that can browse and display materials from Overdrive, CloudLibrary, and other similar services.
The eBooks for All California project not only includes materials inside the app, it also includes a geolocated collection of materials that are all licensed for simultaneous use to anyone inside of California, with or without a library card.
If your library or organization is interested in purchasing materials for inclusion in this growing statewide collection, the California State Library would welcome your participation.
The eBooks for All Collection Development Grants 2024-2025 LSTA-funded projects meet Goal 4 of the California Library Services and Technology Act Investment Plan 2023–2027: Strengthen equitable resource-sharing and access to information, services, and opportunity with an emphasis on local community strengths and challenges.
Timeline
- Grant opportunity closes: April 17, 2024 at 12:00 noon
- Application review period: April 2024
- Application status and selection notification: May 2024
- Grant period begins: July 1, 2024
- Grant period ends: June 30, 2025
Awards will be made after federal IMLS funding levels are confirmed for 2024-2025 and the 2024-2025 California State budget has passed. Successful applicants can expect to receive project funds up to 8 to 10 weeks after the payment claim form is received by the State Library.
Project Requirements
In order to participate in this opportunity, libraries must join the eBooks for All project and offer access to Palace to their patrons. If your library has not yet joined and you are interested in participating, please email ebooksforall@library.ca.gov to get started.
Libraries will need to set up a purchasing account with the Palace Project to procure materials. When grants are awarded, the State Library will work with the grantees to complete that process.
California library consortiums are eligible to participate in this project.
A cash match is required for these grants. The match for all grants will be 25 percent. Please note that an update has been made to the 25 percent match requirement. Your organization’s match contribution can be used to purchase eBook licenses that do not expire at the end of the LSTA grant period. LSTA grant funds from the California State Library can only be used to purchase eBook licenses that expire before June 20, 2025.
Grantees can use other, non-federal, funding sources for any matching requirements. For instance, a cooperative could match the LSTA funds with CLSA funds.
Material selection should be done in accordance with the local library’s collection development policies.
All projects should indicate that they are applying for Goal 4 of the California Library Services and Technology Act Investment Plan 2023–2027.
The only activity in the grant application should be content acquisition of digital materials for the general public.
Libraries must purchase materials inside of the Palace Marketplace and make those materials accessible to all participating libraries inside of California.
Applicants must refer to the application instructions for full details about allowable and unallowable expenses.
Project staff funded through this opportunity make a commitment to participate in the following:
- Connect with marginalized, under-resourced, and underserved communities.
- Participate in community of practice meetings with a cohort of libraries to share best practices around collection development and promotion with each other.
In order for projects to be funded through LSTA they must:
- Adhere to the general guidelines for LSTA eligibility.
- Follow the State Library’s current LSTA five-year plan.
- Adhere to the federal restrictions on funding which are included in the application instructions and grant guidelines.
- Use funding according to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2CFS 200) .
- Be in compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) in order to purchase devices that can connect to and browse the internet. Information on CIPA requirements can be found in the application instructions.
- Participate in the Public Library Survey each year.
- Register for and complete the California Cultural Collections Protection Survey (must have completed within the last 3 years).
To Apply
Please be sure to review the Application Instructions thoroughly. Use the link included below to access the online 2024-2025 eBooks for All application. A separate budget form and certification and signature form must be completed and submitted with the online application.
- Online Application
- Application Instructions (Word)
- Grant Award Budget Form (Excel)
- Certification and Signature Page (Word)
- CA Grants Portal Page
Questions
Email ebooksforall@library.ca.gov with questions.