Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA): EZ Grants

Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA): EZ Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: State Library of North Carolina
Amount: US $5,000 - US $50,000
Last Updated: January 16, 2026

Summary

The Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) provides competitive grants to North Carolina libraries to enhance their services and address community needs. Funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, these grants promote inclusivity, equitable access to resources, and responsive organizational practices. Libraries can apply for grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to support innovative projects that align with the state's strategic goals outlined in the 2023-2027 LSTA Five Year Plan.

Overview

About LSTA LSTA grant awards are made possible by funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. LSTA grants are awarded in response to specific needs of public, academic and community college libraries. These federal funds are investments that help libraries deliver relevant and up-to-date services to their communities. North Carolina LSTA Program Goals Our LSTA activities beginning in the 2023 fiscal year will align with goals and projects as set in our new 2023-2027 Five Year Plan. Goal 1: Community EngagementNorth Carolina libraries will provide inclusive, user-focused services that enable community-wide growth and transformation.Goal 2: Equitable AccessNorth Carolinians will have equitable access to information and technology needed to learn, live, govern, and work.Goal 3: Responsive OrganizationsNorth Carolina libraries will be places that all people find welcoming and accessible through sustainable organizational practices focused on inclusion, development, and community responsiveness. LSTA Grants Libraries are invited to apply for funding that supports a new or improved program or service that will solve a specific problem or meet an identified need of the library’s current or potential users. This competitive grant program allows libraries to focus on meeting their users’ needs by developing a project that has a user-focused need statement, defined outcomes, a timeline with a series of actions spread out over the funding period, and an evaluation that measures how well the outcomes were met. Projects need to support one of the goals from North Carolina’s LSTA Five Year Plan. Each goal is based on identified needs, strives toward excellence and equity in North Carolina’s libraries, and is related to one or more of the eight LSTA priorities. EZ Grants EZ Grants are for single year projects.  The minimum that may be requested is $5,000; the maximum is $50,000. EZ Planning Grants EZ Planning Grants are for single year projects focused on planning activities, like strategic planning and needs assessments.  The minimum that may be requested is $5,000; the maximum is $50,000.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The following North Carolina libraries are eligible to apply for LSTA EZ, Project and Multi-Year Project grants:A public library or library system that meets the eligibility requirements for the Aid to Public Libraries Fund (State Aid);Community college libraries;North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities member libraries; andUniversity of North Carolina system libraries, which includes libraries serving the Area Health Education Centers affiliated with eligible UNC and NCICU institutions.An eligible library or organization may submit up to three applications each year in the EZ Grant or Project Grant categories, or a combination of them. A “library” is the eligible public library system or administratively separate library in an academic institution.  A public library system is inclusive of all outlets making up that system (e.g. Nantahala Regional Library).  An academic institution is the parent institution of the library (e.g. UNC-Greensboro). Administratively separate libraries in an academic institution are those libraries with separate administrative and reporting structures within the institution (e.g. the University Library and the Law Library at UNC-Chapel Hill).  If your institution is not eligible to apply, you may be eligible as a partner. Matching FundsGrants require matching funds totaling at least 25% of the total project costs (less IDC) OR a reduced match of 10% when the project has eligible partners (see below). Matching funds:Consist of cash expenditures paid by the library.May come from a combination of local or state funds or funds from non governmental agencies (e.g. foundations, service clubs).May only be spent for allowable expenditures.Must be available at the time a funded library signs the grant agreement.Must be spent during the funding period from July 1 – June 30.The source(s) of matching funds must be clearly identified in the grant application.Indirect Costs may not be charged against Matching Funds.All or part of Indirect Costs may be applied as match in lieu of payment to the library.Allowable ExpendituresFor EZ and Project grants, here is a general list of allowable expenditures.  This list is not exhaustive, but includes most items.Consulting or contractual services Applicants must select the consultant before the application is submitted and demonstrate in the application that the proposed consultant is qualified to perform the needed work or service; the selected consultant is subject to State Library approval; Evaluation to show the extent to which the project has met its goals;Furnishings that are necessary to support the project;Hardware, software, and/or technology necessary to support the project Indirect costs;Library materials that are necessary to support the project;Outsourcing for digitization of specialized items may be allowable when provided with the rationale for doing so and showing that this approach is appropriate and cost effective;Postage and printing costs for project materials;Salaries and benefits for temporary staff to be employed for the project OR temporary staff to be employed to cover duties of full-time personnel while the full-time person works on the project.  Temporary staff means part-time or full-time personnel hired specifically to help carry out the project, or additional hours for existing part-time staff.  The project description should clearly explain the need for added staff.Supplies necessary to support the project;Travel and/or training expenses related to the project for library or project staff;Vehicles for bookmobiles, library outreach, mobile libraries etc.; andDue to supply chain disruptions to procurement is currently believed that vehicle-centered projects would not be successful within the July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 grant period and are unlikely to be funded.  While vehicle-based projects are not currently unallowable, please keep in mind that the supply chain will be taken under consideration during review.Other expenses that are reasonable and necessary to support the project.

Ineligibility

Federal funds may not be used as match.Unallowable ExpendituresThe following list of unallowable expenditures is not exhaustive but includes most itemsActivities or programs about advocacy, grant writing, or lobbying with a purpose of increasing funding and/or whose primary purpose is to establish a general message that 'libraries are good places and deserve to exist';Architectural plans for existing or new buildings;Collection development activities;Construction or pre-construction planning;Construction or renovation of facilities (generally, any activity involving contract labor in the construction trades is not allowable);Conventional arrangement, description, or cataloging of materials;Costs associated with content management systems (such as CONTENTdm);Digitizing runs of newspapers;Events, festivals, staff training, or acquisition of collections when any of these are the majority of requested funds;Fundraising costs;General advertising or public relations costs not specific to LSTA-funded activities;General operating support; Ongoing expenditures such as subscriptions, utilities, Internet access, or other services;Pre-award costs;Preservation activities or materials (reformatting of media, preservation enclosures including boxes and folders, etc.);Promotional items and memorabilia including gifts, incentives, and souvenirs;Refreshments, entertainment, ceremonies, receptions, or social events;Retrospective conversion of catalog records;Salaries, wages, and/or benefits for existing full-time employees;Services or software licenses that extend beyond the project’s June 30 funding period;Sub-awards; andOther expenses prohibited by state or federal regulations.