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Idaho libraries seek federal grant authority, ask committee for details on digital access spending
Summary
The Idaho Commission for Libraries outlined requests to spend federal and state-authorized funds for broadband reimbursement, subgrants and a multi-year “Digital Access for All Idahoans” program and answered committee questions about summer reading materials and grant timelines.
BOISE — The Idaho Commission for Libraries asked the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Feb. 21 to approve ongoing spending authority connected to a federal broadband and digital‑access grant and to increase reimbursement funding for eligible libraries.
At a budget hearing, Brooke Dupree, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the committee the commission supports 850 libraries statewide and is seeking a modest $42,400 ongoing for broadband reimbursement under the Education Opportunity Resource Act (chapter 56, title 33, Idaho Code), plus continued spending authority tied to a federal Digital Access for All Idahoans grant. "This is for the Education Opportunity Resource Act … and provides reimbursement to Idaho libraries that are eligible," Dupree said.
The request matters because the state agency expects more libraries to qualify for reimbursement and because the federal grant funds will be used to expand digital skills, device access and local tech support. State…
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