Idaho library officials press for continued federal digital-access funding; committee seeks details on summer-reading materials

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Thursday heard the Idaho Commission for Libraries’ fiscal 2026 budget presentation and questions about a federal digital-access grant and summer-reading materials.

Brooke Dupree, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the committee the commission is requesting $2,500,000 ongoing for the "Digital Access for All Idahoans" grant and noted the agency expects to be able to spend grant money through "02/1932." Dupree said the request would be used to continue implementing the commission’s plan in partnership with the Idaho Broadband Office.

The committee pressed for more detail about how the money would be used. "It's supposed to outline barriers to digital access and strategies to eliminate these barriers," Dupree said, summarizing the plan. She said funds would be used for personnel costs, laptops subgranted to libraries and subgrants to community organizations to support digital…