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Library Services and Technology Act

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Library Services and Technology Act
Great Seal of the United States
Other short titles
  • Museum and Library Services Act
  • Museum and Library Services Act of 1996
Long titleAn Act to provide for library services and technology under Museum and Library Services Act, with an emphasis on library services and technology, access, and literacy programs for underserved communities.
Acronyms (colloquial)LSTA
NicknamesOmnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997
Enacted bythe 104th United States Congress
EffectiveSeptember 30, 1996
Citations
Public law104-208
Statutes at Large110 Stat. 3009 aka 110 Stat. 3009-295
Codification
Titles amended20 U.S.C.: Education
U.S.C. sections created20 U.S.C. ch. 72, subch. II § 9121 et seq.
Legislative history
This article is about a U.S. federal library grant program. For the financial services trade group, see Loan Syndications and Trading Association.

United States President Bill Clinton signed the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) on October 1, 1996. LSTA is a United States federal library grant program. Its roots come from the Library Services Act, first enacted in 1956. LSTA replaced the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA), first enacted in 1962. The National Commission on Libraries and Information Science held two White House Conferences that generated discussion and support.[1]

The American Library Association (ALA) and other library groups developed the new act.[2]

Many changes occurred with the passage of LSTA. The original act, the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA), allocated funds for building construction, but LSTA emphasizes technology. The new priority is the creation of technological infrastructure.[3] Another change that occurred with the passage of LSCA was the responsibility of library services. This responsibility was originally a part of the Department of Education. It was moved to the newly created, independent federal agency: the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).[3] The range of libraries served also changed with the enactment of LSTA. Initially, public libraries were primarily served by LSCA. With the passage of LSTA, all types of libraries are served, including public, school, academic, and special.

Not all initiatives under LSCA have changed with the enactment of LSTA. Priorities, like services to the underserved and rural areas, are still supported.[3]

LSCA is a federally funded state-based program, generally administered by the state library of each state. Each state sets specific funding categories based on a long-range plan filed with the IMLS.

State Libraries LSTA Resources and Five-Year Plans

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Notes

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  1. ^ Mathews Virginia H. 2004. Libraries Citizens & Advocacy: The Lasting Effects of Two White House Conferences on Library and Information Services. Washington D.C.: White House Conference on Libraries and Information Services Taskforce.
  2. ^ Flagg, Gordon. "News Fronts Washington." American Libraries, December 1995.
  3. ^ a b c Gregory, Gwen. "The Library Services and Technology Act: How Changes from LSCA are Affecting Libraries." Public Libraries, Vol. 38, no. 6, 1999: p. 378-82.

Other Resources

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American Library Association, Fight to Defend Federal Funding for Libraries

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