Idaho libraries seek federal grant authority, ask committee for details on digital access spending

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 Librarian Stephanie Bailey White told the committee the plan will prioritize subgrants: "Eighty percent of the funds are planned to go out through subgrants to Idaho organizations — our community colleges, school districts — hiring digital navigators, beefing up digital skills, providing tech support for people in communities who don't have access to that now," she said.

Why it matters

The Digital Access for All Idahoans award comes from federal infrastructure funds and is being implemented in partnership with the Idaho Broadband Office. Committee members pressed agency staff on how much of the program would be sustained by state general funds if the federal award ends and on how the funding is distributed to local libraries.

Details and background

Dupree told the committee the commission saw a jump in receipts in fiscal years 2023–24 because of federal pandemic‑era and ARPA capital project funds used for summer programs and capital work. The commission is requesting authority to spend additional federal awards and to continue implementing its digital‑access plan. The agency told the committee it expects to spend as much as $2.5 million per year on subgrants and related activities as implementation ramps up; agency testimony said those disbursements will be spread across multiple notice‑of‑funding‑opportunity rounds managed in coordination with NTIA and other federal partners.

Committee concern focused on making a federally funded initiative part of the budget base. Chairman Groh and others said putting the grant amount into the ongoing base could create an expectation that the state would replace the federal funds once the grant ends. Dupree and Bailey White said the grant is expected to be available for multiple years and that the commission can implement the program on a one‑time basis if the committee prefers. Bailey White said she has "no immediate plans to make this an ongoing part of our base" and offered to provide the committee a detailed itemization of past spending and a multi‑year implementation plan.

Summer reading and content questions

Senator Carlson raised concerns about materials provided in summer reading programs. State Librarian Bailey White said the commission provides promotional materials, manuals and a small quantity of paperback books (supported in recent years by a donation from the Scottish Rite Foundation) and that local libraries select materials for giveaways in line with their collection development policies. "We are hyper conscious of the books that we select and provide those just as giveaways for libraries to provide," she said, noting the commission provides training and guidance to local librarians.

Next steps and committee direction

Committee members asked staff for a more detailed breakdown showing how digital‑access funds will be allocated, how many libraries will be eligible for reimbursement, and an itemized accounting of summer reading materials and distribution. The agency agreed to follow up with that information. No formal committee votes were taken during the presentation.