Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Digital Equity topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Idaho Commission for Libraries awarded $6.3 million federal digital equity grant
Summary
Deputy State Librarian Dylan Baker told the Idaho Board of Library Commissioners that Idaho received a $6.3 million state digital equity capacity grant from the NTIA; the state is the third to receive its funding. The board discussed using federal funds to expand digital navigation services and hiring support staff.
The Idaho Commission for Libraries (ICfL) announced that Idaho has received a $6.3 million state digital equity capacity grant from the federal National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Deputy State Librarian Dylan Baker told the board on Oct. 16.
Baker said Idaho is the third state to receive its funding from the NTIA. Board members and staff discussed how the incoming federal digital access funds could support library-led digital navigation, staffing, and technology refresh programs. State Librarian Stephanie Bailey-White said the ICfL is preparing staffing and grant-management processes to handle the new funding and that some new positions will be funded by the federal award.
The announcement came as part of broader program reports in which ICfL staff described planned modernization of training (the ABLE course refresh), outreach to tribal lands about broadband and digital skills, and an intent to use federal funds to support a limited-services project coordinator and a digital navigator customer service representative. No formal vote was required at the meeting for the NTIA award itself; the board recorded the award and discussed next steps for program implementation.
