Idaho libraries seek ongoing authority to spend federal digital-access grants; lawmakers press for details on summer reading materials

The Idaho Commission for Libraries asked the Joint Finance committee to approve making federal digital‑access funding part of its base spending authority so the agency can plan multi‑year subgrants and local support.

Brooke Dupree, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the committee the agency requests $2,500,000 ongoing for the “Digital Access for All Idahoans” program and a separate $42,400 ongoing for broadband reimbursement under the Education Opportunity Resource Act (chapter 56, title 33, Idaho Code). Dupree said the commission expects more libraries to qualify for reimbursements than it has funding for in base appropriations.

The request would increase the commission’s base so it can issue subgrants and staff program delivery. “Some of this money will be used for personnel costs within the commission to implement and oversee these programs,” Dupree said, and “some of it will be used to buy laptops to then subgrant to those libraries.”

Why it matters: the commission said the federal grant…