Home | Library Development Services

Mission

The Library Development Services Bureau works to strengthen and advance access, equity, and innovation through strategic collaboration, capacity building, and the careful and responsible management of the state and federal funds entrusted to our care. Our efforts help libraries across California focus on public service as they improve their work with communities.

Vision

The California State Library strengthens the ability of local libraries to meet the needs and expectations of California’s communities and improve access to opportunities for all.

Priorities

We commit to:

• Collaboration and partnership that enables California libraries to maximize the reach and quality of their services by including diverse stakeholder perspectives and creating opportunities to work together to reach mutual goals
• Data-driven and outcomes-based impact that contributes to informed decision-making, enables continuous improvement, and eliminates systemic barriers.
• Equity-centered work to help ensure all communities have the library services and programs they need to thrive.
• Ongoing internal and external communication to facilitate information-gathering and sharing, leading to improved community-centered programs and services

Equity is the fair treatment, access, and opportunity for advancement for all people, while at the same time striving to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of some groups. Improving equity involves increasing justice and fairness within the procedures and processes of institutions or systems, as well as in their distribution of resources (Worcester State University, n.d.).

Current and upcoming five year grant making plans

Annual Update

LibrarytoLibrary, A Library Development Services Newsletter

Sign up to receive the “LibrarytoLibrary” a monthly email newsletter from Library Development Services of the State Library containing information on upcoming opportunities, resources and more.

View archived copies of LibrarytoLibrary.

California Libraries in the News

Sign up to receive “California Libraries in the News,” a weekly email newsletter from The State Library containing links to news items about public libraries across the state.

Administration

Grant Administration and Bureau Operations

Grant Coordinators and Analysts

Grant Coordinators and Analysts administer the State Library’s funding opportunities and monitor funded projects.

Please contact our coordinators and analysts for information on upcoming opportunities and with questions about compliance, reporting, and implementing a funded project.

Program Development

Library Programs Consultants and Project Managers

Library Programs Consultants and Project Managers develop and implement statewide programs and initiatives and provide consulting services to public libraries and associated groups and organizations to extend and enhance library services.

For information about participating in statewide programs and initiatives, developing new and existing programs, and collecting, reporting, and using library data and statistics, contact our library programs consultants and project managers. Please include the person you would like to reach or the program you are inquiring about in the subject line.

State Library’s Five-Year Plan for Grantmaking

As part of the LSTA federal grant process, each state library is required to develop a five-year plan that outlines specific goals and objective that will be achieved with these federal funds. This plan guides the work of our LSTA grant making. A hard copy of the LSTA Five Year Plan is available upon request.

• Five-Year Plan for Grantmaking FY 2023-2027

How We Support California Public Libraries

• Grants and Funding Opportunities
• Continuing Education and Networking
• Collections Resources
• Operations Resources
• Programming Resources
• Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Resources
• About CA Public Libraries
• Statewide Programs and Initiatives
• Value of Libraries