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Idaho library board highlights $6.3 million federal digital equity award, adopts grant policies and funds continuing education
Summary
At its Oct. 16 meeting in Meridian the Idaho Board of Library Commissioners discussed a newly awarded $6.3 million federal digital equity grant, adopted a new Noncompliance Policy and reaffirmed grant eligibility rules, and approved up to $34,000 from the Library Services Improvement Fund for continuing education and Creative Aging workshops.
The Idaho Board of Library Commissioners met Oct. 16 in Meridian and addressed a mix of policy, grant management and program updates, including staff reports about a recent federal digital equity award and requests to use reserve funds for continuing education projects.
Deputy State Librarian Dylan Baker told commissioners that Idaho received a $6.3 million state digital equity capacity grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, noting Idaho was the third state to receive its funding. State Librarian Stephanie Bailey-White presented a new Noncompliance Policy designed to govern grant recipients, explaining grantees will sign agreements and the policy allows the Idaho Commission for Libraries (ICfL) discretion to extend deadlines while staff works with grantees.
The board voted on several items: it unanimously adopted the Noncompliance Policy, unanimously reaffirmed the Grant Program Eligibility Requirements with no changes for the year, and approved expenditure of up to $34,000 from the Library Services Improvement Fund (LSIF) to cover an uptick in continuing education applications and to support a second year of Creative Aging workshops. Vice-Chair Janet Franklin moved to approve the agenda and later moved the LSIF expenditure; motions were seconded and carried unanimously.
Commissioners also received routine operations reports on outreach and training, including updates on ABLE continuing-education courses, grant-system implementation, and planned hires funded in part by the incoming federal digital access dollars. The board adjourned at 11:30 a.m.; its next regular meeting is scheduled for Dec. 12, 2024, on Zoom.
